CLOSING NEWS
Philippines
The Philippines was recognized as one of the winners of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control for passing the Sin Tax Law of 2012 and implementing tax collection. The award honored the government’s Department of Finance and Department of Health for their critical roles in passing the law that imposed higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, making it more efficient to increase taxes on tobacco.
The Philippines was recognized for the R category. The other governments and NGOs that were also awarded were in Brazil, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, and Uruguay. This was the second time that the Philippines was recognized for tobacco control interventions.
Former New York City mayor and business magnate Michael Bloomberg, who spearheads the activity, handed the award to Philippine representatives finance undersecretary Jeremias Paul and health assistant secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial in glittering ceremonies last March 18, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, host of the conference that is held every three years.
“The Philippines’ (finance and health departments) played a critical role in passing the sin tax law in 2012, which made it more efficient to raise the tobacco tax by simplifying the country’s tax structure,” the Bloomberg Awards citation stated. It also said the government “stood strongly for tax increases vocalizing their support to the media and Congress while fighting strong opposition and interference by the tobacco industry since the law’s passing.”