A leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday pushed for the enactment of a bill that will adjust the minimum allowable age for smoking from 18 years old to 21.
Probinsyano Ako Rep. Jose Singson Jr., author of House Bill 6210, called on the House Committee on Health to start deliberations on the bill to pave the way for its passage ahead of the political season for the 2022 national elections.
HB 6210 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 which defines minors who are prohibited to use, sell or distribute cigarettes or tobacco products as persons below 18 years old.
In filing the bill, Singson, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, proposed that the authorized age of individuals who may be allowed to use, sell or distribute cigarettes and tobacco products be adjusted to 21 years old and above.
Singson also sought to define “smoking” as the “act of carrying any lighted or heated cigarette, or other tobacco products and its derivatives in whatever form, whether being inhaled, smoked, vaped or consumed in whatever means.”
HB 6210 also provides the posting of signage in point-of-sale establishments bearing the following announcement: “It is unlawful for tobacco products and its derivatives to be sold/distributed to or purchased by persons under twenty-one (21) years of age.”
Singson, a member of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, cited the need for the Lower House to act immediately on the measure to help guarantee its enactment before legislative work is disrupted by the incoming political season.
“This bill aims to save lives and improve the health conditions of our youth, for as the executive is actively doing its part in its advocacy against he harmful effects of smoking, so should the legislative in keeping with international standards of public health and good practices,” he said.
The party-list lawmaker said the bill follows the recommendation of the United Nation Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (UNIATF-NCD) for the increase of the minimum age to 21 of people allowed to purchase tobacco products.
The Philippine Society of Medical Oncologist strongly backed the UNIATF-NCD recommendation.
Citing the World Health Organization’s research on cancer, Singson revealed that 17,255 Filipino were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019. In 2018, at least 15,454 reported deaths were caused by the dreaded lung disease.
