"In a 2009 report from
the Philippine Global Adult Survey, there are an estimated 17.3 million
Filipinos ages 15 and older who are tobacco users".
A few months ago, the Republic
Act 10351 also known as the Sin Tax Law has been passed with the purposes of
increasing the revenues needed by the government to support and upgrade the
public health sector especially the hospital and other healthcare related
services and lessening the incidence of smoke related illnesses and death. This
was signed and passed by the bicameral committee last year and took effect
January of this year. Smoking has been a big issue and problem for many
Filipinos and even around the world with many people becoming troubled with the
health-related risks associated with this. With the recent passing of this law
many of these smokers shifted to cheaper brands instead of lessening their
consumption of this cheap but deadly vice.
·
About 60% of men smoke.
·
A recent survey of Filipino adult smokers found
99.8% cited tobacco advertisements as one factor for initiating smoking.
·
More than half of Filipino households are not
smoke-free.
·
As many as 40% of adolescents boys smoke; most
began in their early teens. Another 6% were former smokers. The majority of
these young smokers said peer pressure was one reason why they took up smoking.
Most now wish they did not smoke and about two-thirds have tried to give up.
·
There are no national laws prohibiting minors
from buying cigarettes.
·
About 200,000 Filipino men will develop
smoking-related diseases in their productive years of age. It was estimated in
1999, that to provide healthcare for these sick men, and the loss in
productivity, cost Filipino taxpayers some P43 billion.
·
Every year, there are about 20,000
smoking-related deaths in the country.
·
Tobacco use will drain nearly 20% of the
household income of smokers' families.
·
Many vendors of cigarettes are children.
