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UHC-Tobacco Tax, an #AlagangAngara Legacy?

Allocating and Tracking Sin Tax Revenues for Universal Health Coverage, Columns, Fiscal Policy, Policy Issues, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Rio Henri Aquino Dayao   The bill to substantially increase the tobacco tax has gained momentum. President Rodrigo Duterte and the Cabinet have certified as urgent Senate Bill 1599, sponsored by Senator Manny Pacquiao, which will increase the current rate of tobacco tax from P35 to P60. Senators JV Ejercito and Wyn […]

Cancer and Tobacco Tax

Columns, Fiscal Policy, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Carlos Jacinto   In January 1975, the Department of Health (DoH) and the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) launched the first ever National Cancer Consciousness Week. The week-long campaign held every third week of January was instituted as a means to educate Filipinos on the dangers of cancer and raise awareness on the […]

UHC at risk without new sin taxes

Columns, Fiscal Policy, Press Room, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Jo-Ann Latuja-Diosana Last Jan. 18, leaders of 30 Philippine medical societies gathered to call for the Senate passage of a bill increasing the excise tax on cigarettes to at least P60 per pack. “The increase will provide crucial funding for the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act that will benefit the current and […]

Will Senator Angara play Big Tobacco’s game?

Columns, Fiscal Policy, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By AJ Montesa   In 1994, the CEOs of seven major tobacco manufacturers testified before the United States Congress regarding the health impact of tobacco consumption. Up to that point, there was still some doubt over whether cigarettes were truly directly harmful. Legislation had already been proposed to regulate the consumption of tobacco […]