Tabacco Tax Hike

Bad news for smokers: P90-tax per pack

By Jocelyn R. Uy

MANILA, Philippines. Everybody knows smoking will bust your lungs. A proposed tax increase on your next nicotine fix will bust your wallet as well.
Citing the “Obama model,” the Department of Health (DoH) Monday said increasing cigarette tax by P4.50 (or 10 US cents) per stick. That’s P90 for every 20-stick cigarette pack. One of the ideas that cropped up during a meeting of health officials with officers of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), an anti-tobacco advocate.
The so-called Obama model refers to US President Barack Obama, who signed a bill into law in February 2009 increasing the federal tax rate of cigarettes from $0.39 to $1.01 per pack to provide for the health insurance of poor children.
There are 17.3 million smokers among the Philippines? 90 million population. One of those who apparently can’t quit is President Benigno Aquino III.
If the idea blossoms in the Philippines, funds raised from the increase in cigarette taxes will partly be used to cover about 5 million poor Filipinos in the health care insurance system, an objective of President Aquino’s administration.
If the proposed increase is implemented, the cost of a cigarette stick would range from P5.50 to P7.50 while the price of a 20-stick cigarette pack would jump to between P97 and P190, according to the estimates of health and church activists seeking curbs on smoking.
The Philippines has one of the highest smoking rates in the entire world. As of now, the Filipino male smoking population ranks 9th, while our female smoking population ranks 16th. The harmful effects of tobacco consumption and of second-hand smoke already established medical facts.  Despite all the warnings, cigarette smoking continues until today and even growing.
The 2009 Philippines’ Global Adult Tobacco Survey (“GATS”) on tobacco use in the Philippines shows that among adults 15 years or older, 28.3% representing 17.3 million Filipinos are current tobacco smokers, and 22.5% or approximately 13.8 million Filipinos smoke everyday consuming an average of 10.6 cigarettes a day.  The same survey shows that more people are exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes, workplaces and public places.  According to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), there are about 5,000,000 deaths a year worldwide directly related to tobacco.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates this to double by 2020 if present trends continue unchecked, with 70% of mortality taking place in developing countries.  In the Philippines, 240 Filipinos die everyday or over 87,000 a year from diseases caused by tobacco. Such figures are alarming thus, the government should give solution to this asap.

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 The Philippines has one of the highest smoking rates in the entire world. As of now, the Filipino male smoking population ranks 9th, while our female smoking population ranks 16th. The harmful effects of tobacco consumption and of second-hand smoke already established medical facts.  Despite all the warnings, cigarette smoking continues until today and even growing.

Cigarette effects:

• Smoking causes coronary heart disease 
• Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene).
• Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen)
• Smoking causes lung cancer.
• Smoking causes the following cancers, Acute myeloid leukemia, Bladder cancer, Cancer of the cervix, Cancer of the esophagus, Kidney cancer, Cancer of the larynx (voice box). Lung cancer, Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth), Pancreatic cancer, Cancer of the pharynx (throat), Stomach cancer.
• Smoking has many adverse reproductive and early childhood effects, including increased risk for infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome.

The 2009 Philippines’ Global Adult Tobacco Survey (“GATS”) on tobacco use in the Philippines shows that among adults 15 years or older, 28.3% representing 17.3 million Filipinos are current tobacco smokers, and 22.5% or approximately 13.8 million Filipinos smoke everyday consuming an average of 10.6 cigarettes a day.  The same survey shows that more people are exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes, workplaces and public places.  According to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), there are about 5,000,000 deaths a year worldwide directly related to tobacco.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates this to double by 2020 if present trends continue unchecked, with 70% of mortality taking place in developing countries.  In the Philippines, 240 Filipinos die everyday or over 87,000 a year from diseases caused by tobacco. Such figures are alarming thus, the government should give solution to this asap.

As a student, I agree that the government should raise the tax on cigarettes in our country because it have been proven to be the most effective way to cut down smokers in our country. 

As a student, I agree that the government should raise the tax on cigarettes in our country because it have been proven to be the most effective way to cut down smokers in our country. Higher tobacco taxes that lead to higher cigarette prices encourage smokers to quit, reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, and prevent initiation among potential new users .

Cigarette tax hike  

•Will decrease tobacco consumption- Of over 101,833,938 Filipinos adults, 28.3% or over 17.3 million adults are smokers. The Department of Health, committed to reduce the smoking population to at least 25.5% by 2014.

•Will save lives and resources- about 240 Filipinos die every day due to tobacco-related illnesses. That number increases everyday. But there is something that can be done about it. Studies demonstrate that at least 140,000 tobacco-related deaths can be prevented if tobacco prices will be increased by at least 30%. To reduce the smoking population to 25.5% by 2014 then we must be prepared to increase tobacco prices by at least 30% to as much as 70%.

•Will protect the young and the poor- The young and the poor are the most vulnerable to the dangers of smoking. According to the Department of Health, in the Philippines, children as young as 5 years old are already starting to smoke and Poor Filipino families continue to smoke even though they don’t have high income rate due to their addiction to cigarettes. Because of their lowered capacity to spend, are the most sensitive to changes in taxes and prices. Necessarily, an increase in price will either convince them to reduce cigarette consumption or to stop smoking altogether.

•Will increase government revenue- The country’s current tax collection is not enough to meet the growing needs for public spending. Tax collection in recent years were largely below the 17% target for 2015. It is clear that the government must raise additional revenues of approximately P255 billion (equal to 3% of the GDP for 2010) for the next four years. Raising tobacco taxes to increase government revenue has proven effective in many countries around the world. Because of the unchanging demand for cigarettes, due in large part to its addictive nature, revenues continue to increase even as smoking prevalence decrease due to increase in taxes.

Cigarette Alternatives: 

•  Sugar free gums- cigarettes are like pacifiers that they need to feel on their lips. Indeed, scientists have found that it's not just the nicotine in cigarettes that gets people hooked it's the oral fixation namely, the sensation of having something in the mouth as well. Chewing sugar free gum is a great alternative for such people, as it satiates the craving for working your mouth. It also keeps the acidity levels in the mouth balanced and is good for your teeth and gums, unlike cigarettes. 

Flavored Toothpicks- They are designed to cut a craving for cigarettes. These toothpicks come in a variety of flavors that can last for several hours. 

•  Dark Chocolate- Eating dark chocolate is a great substitute for smoking. This is because it also increases dopamine levels in the brain much like the nicotine in cigarettes. 
•  Yoga- is one of the best alternatives to smoking, especially for those who tend to smoke when they're stressed or tired.
•  Exercise- daily, being health conscious makes smokers think twice whenever they smoke. 

 

All in all, smoking is very dangerous not only to those who actually do the puffing but also the people around him. Medical studies already proved that cigarette smoking slowly kills us! But there are lots of alternatives that the smoker can turn to like spending time with their families and many more. But most of all the government has the power to at least reduce the number of smokers in the country by raising high cigarette tax rate. So the government should raise the tax on tobacco in the Philippines to fulfill their duty of protecting public health. Above all, its primary responsibility is to protect its citizens and care for them.  It’s their duty to allocate tobacco tax revenues to health programs and alternative livelihood. To complement efforts of raising tobacco taxes to reduce consumption and improve the health and well-being of Filipinos, a portion of the tax revenues must be dedicated for preventive health programs and alternative livelihood for tobacco farmers.

Tabacco Tax Hike

Bad news for smokers: P90-tax per pack

By Jocelyn R. Uy

MANILA, Philippines. Everybody knows smoking will bust your lungs. A proposed tax increase on your next nicotine fix will bust your wallet as well.
Citing the “Obama model,” the Department of Health (DoH) Monday said increasing cigarette tax by P4.50 (or 10 US cents) per stick. That’s P90 for every 20-stick cigarette pack. One of the ideas that cropped up during a meeting of health officials with officers of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), an anti-tobacco advocate.
The so-called Obama model refers to US President Barack Obama, who signed a bill into law in February 2009 increasing the federal tax rate of cigarettes from $0.39 to $1.01 per pack to provide for the health insurance of poor children.
There are 17.3 million smokers among the Philippines? 90 million population. One of those who apparently can’t quit is President Benigno Aquino III.
If the idea blossoms in the Philippines, funds raised from the increase in cigarette taxes will partly be used to cover about 5 million poor Filipinos in the health care insurance system, an objective of President Aquino’s administration.
If the proposed increase is implemented, the cost of a cigarette stick would range from P5.50 to P7.50 while the price of a 20-stick cigarette pack would jump to between P97 and P190, according to the estimates of health and church activists seeking curbs on smoking.
The Philippines has one of the highest smoking rates in the entire world. As of now, the Filipino male smoking population ranks 9th, while our female smoking population ranks 16th. The harmful effects of tobacco consumption and of second-hand smoke already established medical facts.  Despite all the warnings, cigarette smoking continues until today and even growing.
The 2009 Philippines’ Global Adult Tobacco Survey (“GATS”) on tobacco use in the Philippines shows that among adults 15 years or older, 28.3% representing 17.3 million Filipinos are current tobacco smokers, and 22.5% or approximately 13.8 million Filipinos smoke everyday consuming an average of 10.6 cigarettes a day.  The same survey shows that more people are exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes, workplaces and public places.  According to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), there are about 5,000,000 deaths a year worldwide directly related to tobacco.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates this to double by 2020 if present trends continue unchecked, with 70% of mortality taking place in developing countries.  In the Philippines, 240 Filipinos die everyday or over 87,000 a year from diseases caused by tobacco. Such figures are alarming thus, the government should give solution to this asap.

- - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

 The Philippines has one of the highest smoking rates in the entire world. As of now, the Filipino male smoking population ranks 9th, while our female smoking population ranks 16th. The harmful effects of tobacco consumption and of second-hand smoke already established medical facts.  Despite all the warnings, cigarette smoking continues until today and even growing.

Cigarette effects:

• Smoking causes coronary heart disease 
• Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene).
• Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen)
• Smoking causes lung cancer.
• Smoking causes the following cancers, Acute myeloid leukemia, Bladder cancer, Cancer of the cervix, Cancer of the esophagus, Kidney cancer, Cancer of the larynx (voice box). Lung cancer, Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth), Pancreatic cancer, Cancer of the pharynx (throat), Stomach cancer.
• Smoking has many adverse reproductive and early childhood effects, including increased risk for infertility, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome.

The 2009 Philippines’ Global Adult Tobacco Survey (“GATS”) on tobacco use in the Philippines shows that among adults 15 years or older, 28.3% representing 17.3 million Filipinos are current tobacco smokers, and 22.5% or approximately 13.8 million Filipinos smoke everyday consuming an average of 10.6 cigarettes a day.  The same survey shows that more people are exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes, workplaces and public places.  According to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), there are about 5,000,000 deaths a year worldwide directly related to tobacco.  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates this to double by 2020 if present trends continue unchecked, with 70% of mortality taking place in developing countries.  In the Philippines, 240 Filipinos die everyday or over 87,000 a year from diseases caused by tobacco. Such figures are alarming thus, the government should give solution to this asap.

As a student, I agree that the government should raise the tax on cigarettes in our country because it have been proven to be the most effective way to cut down smokers in our country. 

As a student, I agree that the government should raise the tax on cigarettes in our country because it have been proven to be the most effective way to cut down smokers in our country. Higher tobacco taxes that lead to higher cigarette prices encourage smokers to quit, reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, and prevent initiation among potential new users .

Cigarette tax hike  

•Will decrease tobacco consumption- Of over 101,833,938 Filipinos adults, 28.3% or over 17.3 million adults are smokers. The Department of Health, committed to reduce the smoking population to at least 25.5% by 2014.

•Will save lives and resources- about 240 Filipinos die every day due to tobacco-related illnesses. That number increases everyday. But there is something that can be done about it. Studies demonstrate that at least 140,000 tobacco-related deaths can be prevented if tobacco prices will be increased by at least 30%. To reduce the smoking population to 25.5% by 2014 then we must be prepared to increase tobacco prices by at least 30% to as much as 70%.

•Will protect the young and the poor- The young and the poor are the most vulnerable to the dangers of smoking. According to the Department of Health, in the Philippines, children as young as 5 years old are already starting to smoke and Poor Filipino families continue to smoke even though they don’t have high income rate due to their addiction to cigarettes. Because of their lowered capacity to spend, are the most sensitive to changes in taxes and prices. Necessarily, an increase in price will either convince them to reduce cigarette consumption or to stop smoking altogether.

•Will increase government revenue- The country’s current tax collection is not enough to meet the growing needs for public spending. Tax collection in recent years were largely below the 17% target for 2015. It is clear that the government must raise additional revenues of approximately P255 billion (equal to 3% of the GDP for 2010) for the next four years. Raising tobacco taxes to increase government revenue has proven effective in many countries around the world. Because of the unchanging demand for cigarettes, due in large part to its addictive nature, revenues continue to increase even as smoking prevalence decrease due to increase in taxes.

Cigarette Alternatives: 

•  Sugar free gums- cigarettes are like pacifiers that they need to feel on their lips. Indeed, scientists have found that it's not just the nicotine in cigarettes that gets people hooked it's the oral fixation namely, the sensation of having something in the mouth as well. Chewing sugar free gum is a great alternative for such people, as it satiates the craving for working your mouth. It also keeps the acidity levels in the mouth balanced and is good for your teeth and gums, unlike cigarettes. 

Flavored Toothpicks- They are designed to cut a craving for cigarettes. These toothpicks come in a variety of flavors that can last for several hours. 

•  Dark Chocolate- Eating dark chocolate is a great substitute for smoking. This is because it also increases dopamine levels in the brain much like the nicotine in cigarettes. 
•  Yoga- is one of the best alternatives to smoking, especially for those who tend to smoke when they're stressed or tired.
•  Exercise- daily, being health conscious makes smokers think twice whenever they smoke. 

 

All in all, smoking is very dangerous not only to those who actually do the puffing but also the people around him. Medical studies already proved that cigarette smoking slowly kills us! But there are lots of alternatives that the smoker can turn to like spending time with their families and many more. But most of all the government has the power to at least reduce the number of smokers in the country by raising high cigarette tax rate. So the government should raise the tax on tobacco in the Philippines to fulfill their duty of protecting public health. Above all, its primary responsibility is to protect its citizens and care for them.  It’s their duty to allocate tobacco tax revenues to health programs and alternative livelihood. To complement efforts of raising tobacco taxes to reduce consumption and improve the health and well-being of Filipinos, a portion of the tax revenues must be dedicated for preventive health programs and alternative livelihood for tobacco farmers.