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ISSN 2063-5346
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Use and Control of Tobacco in the Philippines: Excise Taxes, Death Toll, and Mortality Rate

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Edgardo S. Delmo, Rosanna Florencia A. Ulep, Jackie D. Urrutia, Sheryl R. Morales, Emejidio C. Gepila Jr., Randy D. Sagun, Francis Leo T. Mingo, Alma C. Fernandez, Jefferson A. Costales, Marvin B. Mas, John Casper D. Morada
» doi: 10.48047/ecb/2023.12.si4.1297

Abstract

The Philippines is one of the countries with the largest number of smokers among its adult population, averaging around 17 million users. Data from the Department of Health shows that in 2018, smoking is responsible for 71 percent of lung cancer deaths worldwide. Locally, about 10 Filipinos die every hour in tobacco-related diseases. Thus, initiatives to increase on tobacco excise taxes are implemented to address the concern. This study reviews the trend on the following: the country’s revenue from tobacco excise taxes and its relationship in tobacco prevalence rate; the number of smoking-related deaths; and the mortality rate in terms of tobacco smoking. To effectively review the data from year 2000 to present and compare it to neighboring Southeast Asian countries, this study utilized meta-analysis. The data are gathered from credible journal articles and sites such as the Philippine Health Statistics and OECD. The collated and reviewed figures suggest that the smoking prevalence is in a decreasing rate while the revenue from the tobacco excise taxes is generally increasing since 2012; the number of deaths in smoking is in constant rise and is predicted to continue rising; and the mortality rate per 100,000 Filipinos did not show significant fluctuation.

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