Media ReleasesFeaturesNews |
Media ReleasesCivil Society Groups to Senators: Support the Tobacco Tax Increase to the Maximum Level Now | SWP Press Release Nov 22 2017
SocialWatch Phils·Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Social development and health budget advocacy networks Social Watch Philippines (SWP) and members of the Alternative Budget Initiative Health Cluster (ABI Health) appeal to the legislators to support the increase in tobacco tax now, not later. Dr. Ma. Victoria Raquiza, SWP co-convenor, calls on the Philippine Senate to support the move to increase a single-tier tobacco tax within the year. ‘We supported the Sin Tax Law in 2012 because it was a health measure with very clear evidence-based pro-poor impacts. Through this legislation, we were able to finance the Universal Health Care and other priority health programs. But the 2012 tax increase can still be immediately improved to finance an expanded Universal Health Care that will include primary health care and human resources development. It will also deter new smokers from cigarette smoking addiction. We hope that our Senators will support the move to raise tobacco tax to its maximum level.” She also mentioned how tobacco and poverty are closely linked, “It’s a cycle: more poor people smoke, get sick, are pushed further into poverty. What is worse is when they do not seek care at all, and die because of diseases attributable to smoking. Tobacco tax serves to shield them from these catastrophes.” On the other hand, Mercedes Fabros, coordinator of the Alternative Budget Initiative Health Cluster of SWP, is a broad coalition of CSOs engaging the national health budget processes since 2006, mentioned the value of the increases in tobacco tax in both health and revenues. “The fight for substantial investment in health is a continuing battle. While the increased resources for health due to the Sin Tax Law has helped improve health services, it is still not enough.” The ABI Health Cluster annually participates in consultations with the Department of Health and other key agencies on policies and budgets and annually formulates a report advocating an alternative budget proposal for health based on the perspective of citizens’ groups. The SWP’s ABI Health cluster also pushed for effective and efficient use of resources for health. According to Fabros, “It is unfortunate that in the Philippines where poverty is pervasive, out of pocket spending on health is high (56% of total health expenditures). For smoking-related and preventable diseases, the government and households lose around PhP 210 billion yearly. Increasing tax on tobacco will not only prevent these deaths, but also protect resources which can be used for instance to improve services and reforms in the healthcare system.” She concurred with Raquiza’s appeal to Senators and observed, “ We cannot be complacent just because the Sin Tax Law was passed in 2012. That was a victory but now is not the time to sit on our laurels while healthcare in the Philippines remains expensive and smoking prevalence remains a daunting challenge. The Senators will be doing a disservice to the people if they do not support the increase in tobacco tax now.”
Isagani R Serrano Jeck Reyes-Cantos Rene Raya Marivic Raquiza Janet Crndng Sheic Sims Mars Mendoza Elijah San Fernando Ivy Esparagoza Dhel Lubyo Back to top |
"What's in it or us?" Social Watch to hold forum on universal protection floor today
Anti-pork groups found 2017 Budget still far from "real change"
Budget watch group urge President Duterte to put Yolanda on top of his agenda
Social Watch Philippines questions 'pork barrel' in 2017 budget
Social Watch seeks adequate funding in NEP to address poverty, unfinished
Yolanda reconstruction In the Spotlight: Social Watch offers an alternative Philippine 2030 Agenda
|