Marcos urged to hike sin taxes ahead of SONA speech

MANILA – Professor Cielo Magno called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to raise sin taxes on cigarettes and unhealthy foods ahead of his State of the Nation Address, arguing the current rates have lost their bite.

Speaking at a Youth for Health press conference in Quezon City on Thursday, Magno said smoking and alcohol consumption are climbing again. The initial deterrent effect of the sin tax regime has faded, eroded by inflation and rising use, she added.

"We already have sin taxes in place," Magno said in Filipino. "I think our government also needs to realize that when the incidence of smoking and alcohol consumption rises, it means the current tax rates are no longer effective; this means they need to be adjusted."

The group urged Marcos to channel the additional revenue into PhilHealth and create safety mechanisms to keep young people from accessing tobacco and alcohol.

The push comes ahead of the president's State of the Nation Address, where health funding is expected to be a topic.