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MANILA — The Parents Against Vape (PAV) has expressed alarm on the persistent efforts to lower tax rates on tobacco and vape products after 2nd District Ilocos Sur Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan filed House Bill (HB) 11279.
While lawmakers aim to stop the worsening illicit cigarette trade problem, PAV stressed that the health of Filipino youth should not be sacrificed by supporting the HB 11279.
If the bill will be passed, PAV expressed fear that it may cause significant health problems to young people such as tobacco-related cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease as tobacco and vape products will become more affordable.
HB 11279 seeks to temporarily suspend the five percent annual tax rate hike on cigarettes and other tobacco products until 2026.
“We don’t want to increase the number of cigarette smokers and vape users. Tobacco products can be made less affordable through taxation. Increasing tobacco taxes can make these products more expensive, resulting in reduced consumption,” PAV said.
Earlier, the Sin Tax Coalition also criticized the authors of HB 11279 for calling for a briefing of the Committee on Ways and Means to discuss the said bill.
They dubbed HB 11279 as “Sin Tax Sabotage Bill,” for allegedly failing to respect Ways and Means Chair Representative Joey Salceda’s previous decision to cancel the meetings to hear the mentioned bill.
Initial estimates by the Sin Tax Coalition show that HB 11279 will lead to forgone revenues of Php27.5 billion and 400,000 new smokers until 2030, versus the status quo.
Aside from Singson-Meehan, Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba is also a co-author of the bill. Other co-sponsors of the bill are Deputy Speaker and Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio Albano, Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, Ifugao Lone District Rep. Solomon Chungalao and PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles-Almario. (/)