World Health Organization (2013) explained that the Philippines now stands as having the biggest number of smokers in Southeast Asia at 17.3 million. An average Filipino smoker puffs 1,073 cigarette sticks every year, while the rest of smokers in the region consume less than a thousand sticks. The World Health Organization estimates that one in every four types of cancer is related to tobacco smoking. It is responsible for 71 percent of lung cancer deaths in the world. The Philippines now stands as having the biggest number of smokers in Southeast Asia at 17.3 million. An average Filipino smoker puffs 1,073 cigarette sticks every year, while the rest of smokers in the region consume less than a thousand sticks. The DOH expected more Filipinos to be stricken with cancer in the next few years. A 2008 study showed that 11 percent of all deaths in the country were attributed to cancer. Other causes of deaths were heart attack, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is also due to tobacco consumption. Lintongan (2013) stated that smoking could kill people in so many ways. The chemical content of a stick of cigarette may cause trouble not only to the smokers themselves but also to the people around them. The leading cause of deaths in the Philippines is linked with cigarette smoking. An estimated 10 Filipinos die every hour due to smoking-related diseases. Most types of cancer are also related to smoking such as lung cancer, which is the leading form of cancer in the Philippines. Poorer people smoke more and unfortunately they are also the most vulnerable to such diseases because of the lack of access to adequate health care. In the support for the passage of the Sin Tax Bill, DOH-CHD XII held a press conference on November 27, 2012 at Sun City Suits, General Santos City. Among the panelists were City Health Officer of General Santos City Dr. Edgardo Sandig, PIA XII Regional Director Olivia T. Sudaria, DOH-CHD XII NCD Coordinator Dr. Leonora A. Lozana, Division Chief-TIDS of Department of Trade and Industry Ms. Mary Ann M. Morales and DOH-CHD XII Regional Director Dr. Marlyn W. Convocar. The effects of cigarette smoking was brought out, convincing the media that if cigarettes are to be sold inexpensively, the poor and the youth could afford it and eventually could lead them to their last breath. Sin Tax Bill is like hitting two birds with one stone. Because of its higher price, consumers are discouraged to buy these sin products, cigarettes and liquors, which could lead to a decrease in number of smoking-related diseases while significantly generating revenue to Universal Health Care or the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan. The Sin Tax is, first of all, an Anti-Cancer Tax with the long-term goal of improving the health of the whole population. As the Senate approved the Sin Tax bill, the Department of Health felt victorious in the campaign against the ill effects of excessive smoking.
Reference List
Chio,J. (13 January 2013).Sin Tax Bill in Philippines. http://judychio.blogspot.com/2013/01/sin-tax-bill-in-philippines.html Alave,K. (28 August 2012).Not just a sin tax, it’s also an anticancer tax. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/259038/not-just-a-sin-tax-its-also-an-anticancer-tax-doh Sin Tax. Anti Essays. Retrieved February 28, 2013, from the World Wide Web: http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/307917.html
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Taxes - compulsory, unrequited payments to general government. Collected for the provision of social & merit goods.…
- 2002 Words
- 9 Pages
Good Essays -
State governments rely on sales tax and income tax for revenues. Each state establishes their own tax rates but are subjected to the authority of the federal government. Sales tax is a tax percentage on the retail price of tangible property. Sales taxes are implemented on consumer goods and/or consumer services. The seller of the goods or services must collect the taxes and submit them to the state government. Some states have a complementary use tax. Use tax is implemented if the owner of the goods did not pay taxes when they purchased the goods. Excise tax is implemented on retail sales of goods. Gas, alcohol, and cigarettes are examples of excise tax on consumer goods. Hotel accommodations and car rentals are examples of excise tax on consumer services. Personal income taxes are a…
- 768 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Some economists argue that one of the key political motivations for the introduction of the alcopops tax is to correct for the negative externalities which abusers of alcopops impose on society. Using diagram(s) discuss how a tax on alcopops can correct for negative externalities associated with excessive consumption of alcopops.…
- 1807 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays -
There is a definition of tax in the Webster 's Dictionary--"...a compulsory payment of a percentage of income, property value, sales price, etc. for the support of a government". In theory the collection of taxation should be fair, simple, efficient and neutral.…
- 1578 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Direct income is generated by collecting value-added tax, excise tax and customs duties on tobacco products and corporate income tax collected from tobacco businesses. Indirect positive effects include savings in public health-care costs and state pensions due to early mortality of smokers, and savings on public costs related to the support of the elderly.…
- 2721 Words
- 11 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Sin taxes has been in effect for centuries. In the early 1500s, Pope Leo X underwrote his lavish lifestyle in part by taxing licensed prostitutes, and Peter the Great preyed on Russian vanity two centuries later by charging men who grew beards. The U.S. has taxed cigarettes since the Civil War, although its levies often lag behind those assessed by other nations. To help raise money for the Civil War, U.S. authorities levy the first federal cigarette tax, of up to 2.4¢ per pack. In the Federalist papers, American patriot Alexander Hamilton proposed an excise tax on alcohol to boost revenues and curb consumption. Alexander Hamilton advocates taxing "ardent spirits" in Federalist No. 12. Seven years later, the U.S. liquor tax sparks the Whiskey Rebellion. When some sin taxes are raised it can cause controversy among our citizens and spark issues in a negative manner. While in other cases the revenue from these sin taxes can be positive and help our nation with costs such as helping with problematic issues such as war.…
- 7239 Words
- 29 Pages
Better Essays -
The big question with increasing cigarette taxes is will it really have the desired effect of decreasing the demand. There are two sides to this. One side says that the price is most defiantly elastic in demand. However, there are others who say that once a smoker always a smoker, no matter the cost. Some of the facts to support the decrease show the highest change in youth smokers. For example, for every ten percent increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, youth smoking rates overall drop about seven percent. Another shocking effect taxes had on cigarette consumption was in 1985 where the tax increase had more of an effect on the consumption than did the health scare created by the government in the 1960’s in Surgeon General’s reports.Although I was not able to find reliable sources to prove the demand to be inelastic, from what I have observed, initially people cut back or attempt to quit but the diehard smokers eventually give in and continue to pay the increased amount.…
- 1090 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Surely no one would doubt that alcohol and tobacco are being consumed in huge quantities all around the world. It is particularly true in developing countries such as my home country of Vietnam and its neighbors with tobacco and alcohol. Along with this consumption, many health and social problems exist, affecting many millions of people planet wide. The United States is a country already plagued by health and social problems and many are due to excessive drinking and smoking. So, the question becomes, “Should taxes on alcohol and tobacco be increased to help pay for medical costs?” This paper will identify many of the medical problems with drinking and smoking, the social problems from the same, and provide some perspective on the current taxes of these products and how those taxes are utilized.…
- 1626 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
This is a government tax on DEMERIT GOODS, meaning “bad” goods like: Petrol, Cigarettes, Alcohol and Gambling.…
- 287 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Effects of Taxes are needed in order to securely administer and fund different governmental organizations, as well as construction and other universal infrastructure services. Many proponents of taxes suggest that taxation is way too extreme within the present day economic trends that exist within America. Taxes do fund many programs and construction of certain projects within America, but also affect certain aspects of America's economy. Taxes do present positive as well as negative characteristics within an economic system. Increased taxes do have a direct effect toward consumers, businesses, and the overall economy.…
- 1666 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
Taxation, imposition of compulsory levies on individuals or entities by governments. Taxes are levied in almost every country of the world, primarily to raise revenue for government expenditures, although they serve other purposes as well.…
- 993 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The tax law attempts to encourage or discourage certain socially desirable or undersirable activities. For example:…
- 1272 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Sin taxes are one of the more controversial taxes out there. They are basically a form of indirect taxation (which has its pros and cons) on goods and services which society considers to be moral ills.…
- 5246 Words
- 21 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Sin taxes already exist on unhealthy items; it can be extended to unhealthy food. "Sin tax" is already widely applied to many substances, such as alcohol and tobacco. Food containing absolutely no nutritional value, or food that is quantifiably unhealthy, should also be subject to these…
- 313 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Taxes from tobacco products sold in Canada provide a very liberal revenue stream for the government, economy, and therefore the general public. The taxes collected can be used to fund…
- 3603 Words
- 15 Pages
Powerful Essays