The media event spotlighted the Health Tax Heroes and Hazards—a gallery that not only praised candidates with strong pro-health records but also exposed those who have prioritized industry profits over the well-being of the Filipino people.

The Health Tax Heroes include: Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Ping Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao, as well as Akbayan and ANAKalusugan party-lists. They have consistently supported taxing harmful products like cigarettes, vape, and alcohol, helping fund vital healthcare programs. ML Partylist and Aksyon Dapat were cited for supporting pro-health platforms. 

On the flip side, the Health Tax Hazards, those who failed to stand with public health and instead sided with industry interests, include Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla.

“We need candidates for the 2025 elections to be Health Tax Heroes and stand with us in prioritizing the health and well-being of our people,” AJ Montesa, economist of Action for Economic Reforms – Sin Tax Coalition said. 

“For over a decade, the laws taxing tobacco, vape, and alcohol products have helped fund critical healthcare programs. We have to stay the course so that these taxes keep impacting consumption, given the ongoing epidemic affecting young people,” Montesa urged.

The doctors revealed their Health Manifesto, demanding candidates adopt the policy: “Tax Yosi, Vape, at Alak Now.” The manifesto calls for lawmakers to strengthen and expand sin tax laws, and insists that voters scrutinize the voting records of candidates—especially in light of the controversial Sin Tax Sabotage bill recently passed in the House of Representatives.

“We are on the front lines, witnessing the devastating effects of tobacco, alcohol, and vaping on our communities, especially the youth,” Dr. Hector Santos, president of the Philippine Medical Association.

“More than 115,000 Filipinos die yearly because of these harmful products. Taxing these substances is a life-saving measure, more than an economic tool. It is our responsibility to protect the next generation from preventable diseases and early deaths caused by these harmful products,” Dr. Santos said.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, underscored the political influence of the tobacco, alcohol, and vaping industries. “For years, some lawmakers have prioritized corporate profits over Filipino lives. This election, we are making sure voters know exactly who has betrayed public health,” she said.

The Health Taxes campaign is supported by a coalition of medical societies and advocates, including the Sin Tax Coalition, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, and the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.

The coalition clarified that its statements reflect its commitment to public health advocacy, but should not be construed as endorsements or political opposition. It said these views are solely those of the coalition.

At a press conference Wednesday, doctors from medical societies and the Sin Tax Coalition united to convince candidates to commit to passing health tax laws that will keep these harmful products away from children and youth.

New projections from public policy think-tank Action for Economic Reforms (AER) based on the National Nutrition Survey also found that consumption rates have increased from 2021 to 2023. According to AER, these dramatic increases represent significant rises in the absolute number of young people consuming harmful products. 

“Every day that we don’t act, another Filipino family loses a loved one while the tobacco, vape, and alcohol industries profit,” said Philippine Medical Association (PMA) President Dr. Hector Santos.

“We are tired of watching the devastating health effects of alcohol, tobacco, and vape on our youth with no action taken by our policymakers. Let us be clear: this is a full-blown epidemic that demands immediate action from our leaders,” he added.  

“We are calling on candidates to stand with our parents and youth now so our children don’t have to inherit a future of early,  preventable deaths and illnesses,” the PMA president said.

The doctors and health advocates presented their 2025 Health Agenda which also urged stronger restrictions on industry sales and advertising, explaining that Filipino youth are increasingly at risk due to aggressive marketing and weak regulations on alcohol, cigarettes, and vapes. 

“These industries are making a profit at the expense of our children’s health,” said Dr. Riz Gonzales of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS).

“Flavored vapes, social media promotions, and cheap alcohol products are specifically designed to hook the next generation. Without urgent government intervention, this crisis will spiral out of control,” he added.

The press conference was attended by the PPS, the PMA, the Philippine Academy of Pediatric Pulmonologists, the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP), the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Parents Against Vape, and the Sin Tax Coalition.

“We must put people over profit to stop a preventable crisis. If our leaders fail to act, they are leaving our youth to fend for themselves against an industry that is actively targeting them like lamb to the slaughter. Our candidates must take a stand and act decisively to increase taxes on these products,” said Dr. RJ Naguit of the PSPHP.

Livestream link: https://web.facebook.com/BawasBisyo/videos/1561107644599655

For those living with respiratory ailments such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), impaired breathing is a day-to-day reality.

Respiratory diseases are alarmingly rampant across the globe. Asthma and COPD, in particular, are significant public health burdens. According to the World Health Organization, COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, with 3.23 million deaths recorded in 2019.^[1] During the same year, WHO reported that asthma affected about 262 million people globally, with deaths hitting 461,000. Asthma remains the most common chronic disease among children.^[2]

A recent statement by the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) also pointed to the risk of long-term effects of COVID-19 among those with respiratory ailments that were infected with coronavirus disease.

Fortunately, advancements in science and technology have now made it easier to treat and manage various respiratory ailments. Yes, even at home. People suffering from an asthma attack or a COPD flare-up can now find immediate relief through breathing devices such as nebulizers.

How nebulization can help you breathe easy

Nebulizers are a type of breathing apparatus used for the administration of medicated vapors. While most commonly prescribed for and used by asthmatics, nebulizers can also help address many other respiratory conditions, including COPD, acute bronchitis, allergic rhinitis and cough. This is why medical health experts and government health specialists continue to encourage the use of nebulizers as these can help save the lives of those with chronic respiratory ailments. 

Having your own nebulizer at home can spell the difference between managing an attack and having to go to the hospital. Here are the biggest benefits of at-home nebulization:

• Faster results. For someone having difficulty breathing, minutes can feel like hours. With a nebulizer, the patient can be given immediate relief and the asthma attack or COPD flare-ups can be prevented from escalating into an even bigger health concern. Home nebulizer therapy delivers direct medication straight to the appropriate areas of respiratory tracts (upper or lower) which is very important for delivering the desired effect This kind of treatment works faster and gets better results with smaller doses than pills or shots.
• Fewer side effects. Compared to oral medications, nebulizers can be used for years with less risk of side effects associated with long-term use of steroids such as bone loss, weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and susceptibility to infection.
• Convenient and easy to use. Unlike with other devices such as inhalers, home nebulizer therapy does not require the patient to coordinate his or her breathing with the machine. For this reason, doctors often recommend nebulizers for people who may have difficulty using inhalers. Also, nebulizers can come in smaller sizes, which make them easy to unpack, set up and take anywhere.

A common misconception about nebulizers is that they are complicated and hard to use. On the contrary, nebulizers are actually very simple to operate. 

Recent improvements in healthcare technology have made nebulizers such as OMRON’s NE-C101 more user-friendly. The NE-C101 is efficient and ensures a quick and reliable treatment for adults and children alike. Its compact design helps make it easier to manage the entire family’s respiratory health at home. 

Consider getting your family its own home nebulizer today because when it comes to health, prevention is always much better than cure. With OMRON’s Compressor Nebulizer NE-C101, a convenient and long-term health solution at home or on the go is right at your fingertips. 

For more information about OMRON Healthcare’s products and their availability, please visit https://www.omronhealthcare-ap.com/ph.

Global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson Philippines (J&J), through its consumer health brand Nicorette, announced its collaboration with the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), the premiere authority for pulmonary medicine in the country. 

The partnership between the two organizations is founded on the joint-goal of addressing the challenge to change the way Filipino smokers receive support, as they work towards quitting the habit for good. Alongside existing efforts, J&J and the PCCP will be developing a new smoking cessation module that will be used for training healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in giving counsel and recommending treatment to dissonant smokers. The module will kick off with Lung Center of the Philippines as its first hospital partner.

According to a 2019 study on smoking incidence that conducted surveys among 1,500 Filipino regular smokers, 98% of Filipino smokers have the intention of quitting. However, it was found in the 2015 Global Audit Tobacco Survey of the World Health Organization, only 4% are able to do so successfully. 

Senior brand manager for Nicorette in the Philippines Jason Khu shared, “In our research, we found that a common challenge quitters have is the lack of proper support– be it from their family and peers, or them not being equipped with the right tools.”

He added, ”Through this partnership with the PCCP, we are hoping to help them address that challenge with a more holistic approach, and equip them with everything that they need to make their quitting journey a success.” 

Currently, available resources for Filipino quitters include: 1) the DOH QuitLine 1558, a toll-free hotline service where smokers can seek professional consult, 2) free educational materials on proper smoking cessation such as quit guides, nicotine dependence tests, and budget calculators, 3) live discussions with HCPs, and 4) nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. 

Dr. Glynna Ong-Cabrera of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians emphasized, “One thing we need to understand about smoking cessation is that when a smoker commits to quitting, the effects of changing that lifestyle goes beyond than just the physical. It will affect one’s mental health and overall well-being, which is why it is so important that we provide quitters the support that they need in the ways that would be most helpful for them.”

She also shared her optimism in the collaboration, as it opens the doors for more opportunities in helping Filipinos live a longer, happier and healthier life. 

Nicorette is an over-the-counter NRT product, currently available in the form of a 2mg medicated chewing gum in all leading drugstores nationwide and online via Watson’s stores on Shopee and Lazada. 

To know more about Nicorette, you may visit: https://www.nicorette.com.ph/ or sign up now to Join the Quitters Community on https://www.nicorette.com.ph/join-the-quitters.