More than 115,000 Filipinos die each year from diseases linked to tobacco, vape, and alcohol use, health experts warned on Monday, April 8, as they raised concern over the country’s worsening public health crisis.
“We are on the front lines, witnessing the devastating effects of tobacco, alcohol, and vaping on our communities, especially the youth,” Dr. Hector Santos, the president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), said.
“More than 115,000 Filipinos die yearly because of these harmful products. Taxing these substances is a life-saving measure, more than an economic tool. It is our responsibility to protect the next generation from preventable diseases and early deaths caused by these harmful products.”
With this, over 200 doctors and health advocates under the Sin Tax Coalition are urging 2025 election candidates to commit to increasing taxes on these substances as a way to reduce consumption and protect public health.
The group launched the campaign slogan “Tax Yosi, Vape, at Alak Now” as part of its call to include stronger health tax policies in candidates’ platforms.
“We need candidates for the 2025 elections to be Health Tax Heroes and stand with us in prioritizing the health and well-being of our people,” said AJ Montesa, an economist at Action for Economic Reforms
He added that sin taxes have helped fund critical healthcare programs for more than a decade.
“We have to stay the course so that these taxes keep impacting consumption, given the ongoing epidemic affecting young people,” Montesa stated.
The coalition also warned voters to scrutinize candidates’ records, especially in light of the controversial Sin Tax Sabotage bill passed in the House of Representatives.
The group laudwd Senators Pia Cayetano, Kiko Pangilinan, Ping Lacson, and Manny Pacquiao for their consistent pro-health votes, while calling out Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla for “siding with industry interests.”
Dr. Maricar Limpin, the president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), said the health harms of alcohol, tobacco, and vapes are undeniable, but so is the political influence of these industries.
“For years, some lawmakers have prioritized corporate profits over Filipino lives. In this election, we are making sure voters know exactly who has betrayed public health,” she went on.
The Health Taxes campaign is backed by the PMA, PCCP, Hepatology Society of the Philippines, and other members of the Sin Tax Coalition.
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) raised concern over the growing use of tobacco and vape products among Filipino adults, calling it a persistent public health threat.
The agency emphasized that nicotine addiction continues to pose serious health risks in the country.
Citing the 2023 National Nutrition Survey, the DOH reported a significant increase in tobacco and vape use among adults aged 20 to 59, rising from 19 percent in 2021 to 24.4 percent.