Various youth groups have called on the Congress to urgently pass significantly higher taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes to help ensure sufficient funding for the Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

They urged lawmakers to pass the “sin” tax version principally authored by Senator Pia Cayetano–Senate Bill (SB) No. 1074–and which the Departments of Finance (DOF) and of Health (DOH) jointly support.

The bill represents a component of Package 2 Plus of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.

In a press conference after the recent Sulong Pilipinas: 2019 Students Tax Convention at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, the Youth for Sin Tax–a member of the Sin Tax Coalition of civil society groups–described “sin” taxes as “the single most effective way of significantly reducing consumption of ‘sin’ products among the youth who are sensitive to price increases.”

The National Capital Region (NCR) chapter of the National Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (NFJPIA), which has 20,000 members in different colleges in Metro Manila, likewise gave its nod to higher “sin” taxes.

NFJPIA-NCR pointed out that “alcohol is the leading cause of death for young people,” and that “1 out of 5 e-cigarette users is aged 10-19 years old.”

“We reiterate our support for the Package 2 Plus in its entirety, for this will allow us to make a significant investment in our country’s health, and ultimately, the nation’s long-term development,” NFJPIA-NCR said in its statement.

The Benilde Central Student Government, meanwhile, expressed support for the reform, more so because additional funding for UHC can “make mental health interventions more accessible.”

The Junior Philippine Economics Society (JPES), the leading national organization of economics students, also called for the immediate passage of SB 1074.

“SB 1074 is an advantageous measure insofar as public health and fiscal health are concerned,” the official statement by JPES read.

SB 1074 is now in the period of plenary interpellation and has been certified as an urgent bill by President Duterte.

Joining other youth groups in supporting the call for higher “sin” taxes is the Youth Alliance for Health Reform (YAHR), a national organization of young medical professionals and students of health-related programs.

“The proposed measure under Package 2+ will provide policy-level interventions that will lead to significant health and societal impact. This will further secure the necessary funding for the full implementation of UHC,” YAHR said in a statement.

“We affirm the need for the full implementation of UHC that will cater to the health and medical needs of all Filipinos, especially those who cannot afford quality and reliable healthcare services,” YAHR added.

Youth for Sin Tax, YAHR, NFJPIA-NCR, and JPES presented their statements to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who acknowledged the youth groups for their support for the tax reform in his speech at the close of the Sulong workshop.

“You, the young Filipinos, are the direct beneficiaries of the sustained growth we seek to achieve through the reforms we now undertake. The future belongs to you. You have the greatest stake in our economy’s success. It will shape your career paths and the quality of your lives. Your voices must be heard,” Dominguez said.

Other youth groups have submitted statements of support on significantly higher excise taxes on alcohol, HTPs, and e-cigs, through their official channels.

These groups include the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, Bicol Youth Brigade, and the Sangguniang Kabataan officials of Guinobatan, Albay.

“We, Sangguniang Kabataan officials of Guinobatan, Albay express our full support for the measures to impose higher taxes on alcohol and e-cigarette products as part of our mandate to prevent young people from abusing dangerous and addictive substances,” the statement signed by the SK Federation president of Guinobatan, Albay read.

The Youth for Mental Health Coalition said that “Higher taxes on alcohol makes it less accessible to all, which will not just benefit us financially but also psychologically.”

The Bicol Youth Brigade also said the group’s members “support the proposals to tax alcohol products at a level that truly discourages excessive consumption among young people.”

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