Manila, Philippines - The Department of Health is pushing for a 200-percent increase in taxes slapped on Cigarettes as a way to discourage Filipinos from smoking.
Manila, Philippines - The Department of Health is pushing for a 200-percent increase in taxes slapped on Cigarettes as a way to discourage Filipinos from smoking.
DoH officials noted the Philippines is one of the countries in the world where Cigarettes are most accessible because they are cheap.
The department cited the experience of countries such as Thailand and Indonesia where consumers have been discouraged from buying Cigarettes because they are expensive.
In a recent report, the United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO) noted that Cigarettes are relatively affordable in the Philippines. WHO said the top brand amounts to only P25 each and that it only takes nine percent of the annual per capita income to buy 100 packs.
The taxes imposed on tobacco products are also low and are less than 50 percent of its retail price.
The report showed that while the Philippines is not among the top 10 countries where most of the world's smokers live, around 15.9 percent of Filipino youth, or those aged 13 to 15 years old, smoke while 34.7 percent of Filipino adults, or those aged 18 years old and above, smoke and 23.6 percent of them smoke everyday.
To combat the tobacco epidemic, WHO has introduced the MPOWER package of six proven policies. These include Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn about the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and Raise taxes on tobacco.