THE Sin Tax Coalition on Thursday, January 16, 2025, slammed lawmakers behind the recent push to lower tobacco taxes, calling such a proposal a "gross betrayal" of public health.
In a statement, Sin Tax Coalition Convenor Dr. Antonio Dans said it is an unacceptable proposal to remove the five percent annual tobacco tax rate hike, as it would only make tobacco products more accessible to the public again.
"House Bill (HB) 11279 will deliver a devastating blow to both the government’s tax collections and public health," said Dans.
"Lowering taxes will reduce the prices of cigarettes and vape products, thus making them more accessible to the youth and the poor," he added.
Dans said they do not support the proposed measure, which is allegedly aimed at addressing the rising illicit trade of tobacco products.
The Sin Tax Coalition also disagreed with claims that the smuggling problem has allegedly led to declining tobacco tax revenues in the country.
"These arguments are purely speculative and driven by profit motives. The bill’s only beneficiary is the tobacco industry," he said.
"Illicit trade must be fought head-on through the stringent enforcement of sound rules by government agencies," Dans added.
Under HB 11279, its authors are calling for a one-year temporary suspension of the five percent annual increase imposed on tobacco products, heated tobacco products, vapor products, cigars, and cigarettes.
The lawmakers claim that such a move is necessary due to the decline in government excise tax collections since 2022, attributed to the prevalence of illicit tobacco products. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)