Senior admin lawmakers push minimum cigarette price measure

MANILA, Philippines - Senior administration lawmakers have strongly endorsed the passage of the Minimum Cigarette Price (MCP) Bill, saying the measure will stifle the cigarette price war and discourage the youth from smoking.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., a lawyer, said the MCP Bill seeks to discourage people from smoking, “and at the same time will bring more money to the national coffers increasing in the process our health care fund.” 

“Of course, we want the bill’s primary objective of deterring youth smoking to succeed, after all, as public officials, we must put forward the best interest of the nation at heart and in this case, their health,” Barzaga said.

He said other administration lawmakers have expressed support for House Bill 5013 filed by Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona that seeks to impose a minimum price of P38 per cigarette pack beginning January by 2015, P44 by 2016 and P51 by 2017. From 2018, the floor price would then be adjusted every year by four percent.

Lawmakers have said that zeroing in on the youth’s limited buying power is a good strategy to altogether lessen smoking prevalence among the 18 to 24 year-old age group and discourage prospective young smokers from initiating tobacco use.