Doctors urge Eleksyon 2025 candidates to become ‘health tax heroes’

Ahead of Araw ng Kagitingan, more than 200 doctors and health advocates gathered on Tuesday to call on candidates in the 2025 elections to become "Health Tax Heroes" by supporting increased taxes on tobacco, vape, and alcohol. 

This push aims to protect Filipino youth from the harmful effects of these substances.

The media event featured a gallery titled “Health Tax Heroes and Hazards,” which highlighted the track records of 2025 candidates about the Sin Tax Law of 2012 and the Sin Tax Reform Law of 2020. 

The exhibition aimed to shine a light on legislators' past actions regarding public health and taxation, emphasizing the importance of continued support for policies that fund vital healthcare programs.

Among the most prominent supporters of the health tax initiative were Pia Cayetano, Kiko Pangilinan, Ping Lacson, and Manny Pacquiao, all senators at the time, who were recognized as the "Health Tax Heroes" for their consistent support of taxing harmful products like cigarettes, vape, and alcohol.

On the other hand, the politicians labeled "Health Tax Hazards"were criticized for supposedly prioritizing industry interests over public health.

“Batay sa aming pagsusuri, ang pinakamalaking 'health tax hazards' ay dalawa po, si Senator Imee Marcos at si Senator Bong Revilla," an economist from the Action for Economic Reforms (AER), AJ Montesa stated.

(Based on our analysis, the two biggest health tax hazards are Senator Imee Marcos and Senator Bong Revilla.)

This comes as part of a broader campaign urging 2025 candidates to commit to increasing taxes on these harmful products to protect public health, particularly the youth.

The doctors listed some candidates who were lawmakers during the time these sin tax laws and amendments passed and whether they voted yes or no: 

Sin Tax Reform of 2012 (R.A. No. 10351): This law increased excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, funded universal health care, and helped curb smoking. 

• Voted yes
  • Abby Binay
  • Pia Cayetano
  • Ping Lacson
  • Lito Lapid
  • Kiko Pangilinan
• Voted no
  • Tito Sotto
  • Bong Revilla

Sin Tax Reform of 2019 (RA. No. 11346): This increased excise taxes on tobacco and is the first law to tax e-cigarettes.

• Voted yes
  • Bam Aquino
  • Ping Lacson
  • Manny Pacquiao
  • Tito Sotto
  • Kiko Pangilinan

Sin Tax Reform of 2020 (Republic Act 11467): This increased excise taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco products, and vapor products.

• Voted yes
  • Pia Cayetano
  • Bato Dela Rosa
  • Ping Lacson
  • Lito Lapid
  • Kiko Pangilinan
  • Imee Marcos
  • Manny Pacquiao
  • Tito Sotto
• Did not vote 
  • Bong Go
  • Bong Revilla
  • Camille Villar

Vape Liberalization Act (Republic Act No. 11900): This is seen by the doctors as having worsened the "vapedemic" by lowering the minimum age of access from 21 to 18 years old and allowing youth marketing tactics such as allowing different flavors.

• Voted yes
  • Bato Dela Rosa
  • Ping Lacson
  • Lito Lapid
  • Imee Marcos
  • Tito Sotto
  • Bong Revilla
  • Camille Villar
• Voted no
  • Pia Cayetano
  • Kiko Pangilinan
• Abstained
  • Bong Go
  • Manny Pacquiao 

"Sin Tax Sabotage Bill" (House Bill No. 11560): The bill will lower the tobacco tax to 2%, making cigarettes cheaper, which is expected to increase the number of new smokers.

Principal authors: Representatives Kristine Singson-Meehan, Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, Rufus Rodriguez

Non-partisan

Montesa, however, clarified that their criticism is not politically motivated, nor is it aimed at any particular party.

"Gusto ko sabihin na ang assessment na ito ay hindi personal, hindi partisan, wala kami pinapanigan ng kanyang political party. Ito ay batay sa record ng pagboto at hindi sa retorika,” he emphasized.

(I would like to say that this assessment is not personal, nor partisan, and we are not favoring any political party. It is based on voting records, not on rhetoric.)

Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, stressed the importance of holding lawmakers accountable and calling them out to prioritize public health.

"This election, voters need to know who is standing for their health and who is bowing to corporate pressure. Remember the people who voted for health," she said. — BM, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.