Hontiveros Pushes for Bigger Increase in Tobacco Tax, Says Senate Must Finish Strong on Health

“The Senate must finish strong on health reforms in the closing stretch of the 17th Congress.”

This was the statement issued by Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros as she pushed for the immediate passage of a bill increasing excise taxes for tobacco products to fund key services under the country’s universal health care program.

Hontiveros said that the passage of the measure will reduce the incidence of smoking among Filipinos and at the same time fund accessible and effective health programs for all.

“Let us not miss this opportunity to save Filipino lives, as well as ensure our good health and well-being. One of the best parting gifts from the Senate this 17th Congress would be the passage of a law that will reduce incidence of smoking among Pinoys and at the same time fund accessible and effective health programs for all,” she said.

Hontiveros, who is the Vice-chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that revenues from higher taxes on tobacco products would provide much-needed funding for the full implementation cost of the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11233), pegged at P 258 billion.

“We need this increase in excise taxes if we ever hope to provide proper funding and resources for the Universal Health Care Act and fulfill its promise of affordable and efficient healthcare in every part of the country,” she stressed.

Hontiveros also said that the higher taxes on available tobacco products would be crucial to bringing down the number of Filipinos who may suffer from smoking-related complications in the following years. Citing data from the Department of Health, she said that increasing the prices of cigarettes may lead to as much as 3.2 million Filipinos quitting tobacco use, thus averting at least 713,000 deaths.

She added that the World Health Organization (WHO) has noted the effectiveness of higher taxes on tobacco in discouraging tobacco use particularly among the youth and impoverished sectors, saving them from cancer, heart disease and other tobacco-related risks.