NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Pia Cayetano: Use The Power Of Taxation For Good And To Protect Our Children
Sen. Pia Cayetano. Photo by Senate PH
Senator Pia S. Cayetano highlighted the importance of taxation as a tool for promoting public health and safeguarding children from the harmful effects of tobacco.
In her speech during the 76th World Health Assembly side-event on the topic "Using the Power of Health Taxes to Fight Non-communicable Diseases", Cayetano shared the story of the Philippines' battle against tobacco and highlighted the significance of perseverance and implementing regulatory measures to protect public health.
Cayetano began her address by recounting her journey in tobacco control, which started in 2008 with the filing of a bill on Graphic Health Warning.
"So I became a senator in 2004 and my seatmate was the former Secretary of Health [the late Health Secretary and Senator Juan Flavier] who launched his campaign called "Yosi Kadiri." It means, 'smoking is disgusting.' So he was my seatmate and mentor. He was a doctor. And he told me to chair the Committee on Health and that he would guide me. He truly was a good mentor for many years. So sometime in 2008, was my first start with tobacco control. And that was when I filed the bill on Graphic Health Warning," she said.
"And so the first lesson from this measure was perseverance, because [the bill] passed six years later," the senator added.
She showcased photos of young advocates who had grown into teenagers during the six-year struggle, underscoring the long-term impact of the legislation.
She further discussed her involvement in strengthening the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009, which aimed to ensure that all products affecting health fall under FDA jurisdiction. However, the tobacco industry filed a case arguing that tobacco products do not affect health and should not be regulated by the FDA.
"The case was pending in the Supreme Court and I filed as an intervenor because that was my law. So I had standing to file as an intervenor in that case," Cayetano said.
In 2012, Cayetano shared she achieved a significant milestone with the passage of the Sin Tax Law, which introduced higher taxation on sin products, including tobacco. The revenue generated from the sin tax has been instrumental in funding the country's Universal Health Care and improving healthcare facilities.
She expressed pride in witnessing the positive impact of this funding, with many individuals now able to access healthcare services who previously had limited or no access.
Cayetano also highlighted the debate surrounding the taxation of new products like e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco in 2020. The decision was made to tax these products, considering the challenges of enforcing a ban in a country comprised of 7,000 islands.
With the support of her brother, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, she successfully pushed for robust taxation rates and important health provisions to protect youth from the harms of these products.
However, the following year, a new bill was filed at the House of Representatives, seeking to reverse the gains made in tobacco control.
Cayetano faced an uphill battle as the sole opponent in the Senate, but ultimately lost on important provisions such as raising the age of access to 18 and allowing a broader range of flavors. Despite the setback, she remains determined to continue the fight.
Cayetano shared both positive and negative developments in the realm of tobacco control.
She celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to include tobacco under the jurisdiction of the FDA after a decade-long legal battle. However, a motion for reconsideration is currently underway, as the tobacco lobby seeks to challenge this ruling. She also expressed concerns about the Department of Trade's jurisdiction over vapes, emphasizing that the health of people should be ensured by the Department of Health and the FDA.
In conclusion, Cayetano expressed hope for the future and the need to combine taxation with regulatory measures to ensure limited use, particularly among children.
She emphasized the importance of perseverance and urged attendees to continue the fight for a safer environment for children, utilizing the power of taxation for the greater good.
In her speech during the 76th World Health Assembly side-event on the topic "Using the Power of Health Taxes to Fight Non-communicable Diseases", Cayetano shared the story of the Philippines' battle against tobacco and highlighted the significance of perseverance and implementing regulatory measures to protect public health.
Cayetano began her address by recounting her journey in tobacco control, which started in 2008 with the filing of a bill on Graphic Health Warning.
"So I became a senator in 2004 and my seatmate was the former Secretary of Health [the late Health Secretary and Senator Juan Flavier] who launched his campaign called "Yosi Kadiri." It means, 'smoking is disgusting.' So he was my seatmate and mentor. He was a doctor. And he told me to chair the Committee on Health and that he would guide me. He truly was a good mentor for many years. So sometime in 2008, was my first start with tobacco control. And that was when I filed the bill on Graphic Health Warning," she said.
"And so the first lesson from this measure was perseverance, because [the bill] passed six years later," the senator added.
She showcased photos of young advocates who had grown into teenagers during the six-year struggle, underscoring the long-term impact of the legislation.
She further discussed her involvement in strengthening the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009, which aimed to ensure that all products affecting health fall under FDA jurisdiction. However, the tobacco industry filed a case arguing that tobacco products do not affect health and should not be regulated by the FDA.
"The case was pending in the Supreme Court and I filed as an intervenor because that was my law. So I had standing to file as an intervenor in that case," Cayetano said.
In 2012, Cayetano shared she achieved a significant milestone with the passage of the Sin Tax Law, which introduced higher taxation on sin products, including tobacco. The revenue generated from the sin tax has been instrumental in funding the country's Universal Health Care and improving healthcare facilities.
She expressed pride in witnessing the positive impact of this funding, with many individuals now able to access healthcare services who previously had limited or no access.
Cayetano also highlighted the debate surrounding the taxation of new products like e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco in 2020. The decision was made to tax these products, considering the challenges of enforcing a ban in a country comprised of 7,000 islands.
With the support of her brother, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, she successfully pushed for robust taxation rates and important health provisions to protect youth from the harms of these products.
However, the following year, a new bill was filed at the House of Representatives, seeking to reverse the gains made in tobacco control.
Cayetano faced an uphill battle as the sole opponent in the Senate, but ultimately lost on important provisions such as raising the age of access to 18 and allowing a broader range of flavors. Despite the setback, she remains determined to continue the fight.
Cayetano shared both positive and negative developments in the realm of tobacco control.
She celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to include tobacco under the jurisdiction of the FDA after a decade-long legal battle. However, a motion for reconsideration is currently underway, as the tobacco lobby seeks to challenge this ruling. She also expressed concerns about the Department of Trade's jurisdiction over vapes, emphasizing that the health of people should be ensured by the Department of Health and the FDA.
In conclusion, Cayetano expressed hope for the future and the need to combine taxation with regulatory measures to ensure limited use, particularly among children.
She emphasized the importance of perseverance and urged attendees to continue the fight for a safer environment for children, utilizing the power of taxation for the greater good.
May 24, 2023
