“From a societal concern, I say yes to the idea of an increase in sin taxes….As you know, these sin products have a health burden on the people.”

This was the statement of President Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy). His statement was an explicit signal to legislators to pass a law that will increase sin taxes and rectify the errors in the present law governing sin taxes.

The law on sin taxes needs to be overhauled. The sin taxes are not indexed to inflation. And the excise taxes on tobacco products especially are so convoluted, resulting in further erosion of revenues.

We welcome the statement of President Benigno Aquino III to back reforms on excise taxes on sin products, including tobacco and cigarettes. In his statement, President Aquino said that, “From asocietal concern, I say yes to the idea of an increase in sin taxes.There are trade-offs. As you know, these sin products have a health burden on the people, and this health burden has a peso value.”

Year after year, tobacco-related diseases claim the lives of millions. Inthe Philippines alone, approximately 90,000 die every year or about 10 Filipinos every hour die from smoking-related diseases. [1] We believe that increased excise taxes, particularly on tobacco products, will not only address the economic costs by curbing tobacco usage, but also increase revenues for the government.

Action for Economic Reforms, in collaboration with the Department of Health, World Health Organization, University of the Philippines College of Law, SEATCA Initiative on Tobacco Tax (SITT), and HealthJustice will be holding a Health Promotion Funding and Tobacco Tax Seminar on June 22, 2010, Tuesday, 8:00AM- 12:30PM at the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. This event will feature Dr. Ayda Yurekli, a Senior Economic Adviser from the World Health Organization.

The main objectives of this Seminar are: (1) to enhance the participants’ understanding of the health promotion funding concept and how tobacco taxes can be used as a source of funding for priority public health programs; and (2) to draw broad-based support for the tobacco tax increase and health promotion funding.