EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2410
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO
FLED
N&EX
AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM AGE OF ACCESS FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS, 
THEREBY AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 9211, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE TOBACCO REGULATION ACT OF 2003
EXPLANATORY NOTE
During a time when the worid is suffering from a health pandemic brought about 
by COVID-19, taking care of one’s health is of utmost importance in order to fight such 
deadly virus. According to the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) - Tobacco Control 
Advocacy Group, there is a startling connection between cigarette and/or vape smoking 
and COVID-19, which can result in critical hospitalization and even death.1 The 
Department of Health also joined PPS in pushing for tobacco cessation and reminding 
the public of the risks of cigarette and vape smoking in connection to COVID-19.2
The epidemic of tobacco use in the country calls to mind Article II, Section 15 of 
the Constitution which expressly provides that the State shall protect the right to health 
of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Thus, it is unequivocally the 
State’s mandate to protect the people, most especially the youth, from the long-term 
health impacts of the use of tobacco products to the user and to the society.
This bill proposes to increase the minimum age of access for tobacco products 
from eighteen years (18) of age to twenty-one (21), consistent with Republic Act No. 
11467 or the “2020 Sin Tax Law”, which mandates the minimum age of access to 
vaporized and heated tobacco products at twenty-one (21) years old. By increasing the 
age of access to these harmful products, the State is fulfilling its role of reaffirming the 
right of the Filipino people, most especially the youth, to the highest standard of health, 
especially at a time when the country is experiencing and still being threatened by the ill 
effects of COVID-19.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill and approval of the 
same is earnestly sought.
'ffji % (jbjAtj^ 
PIA S. CAYI^ANO
1 Mocon-Ciriaco, C. "DOH, PPS push for tobacco cessation, cite Covid-19 risks.” Business Mirror. 11 
November 2020. Accessed from: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/11/doh-pps-push-for-tobacco- 
cessation-cite-covid-19-risks/?fbclid=lwAR1aauR7hYSu_mrqjlvaKOM93yDfosMh_W]Tuv- 
dk0ZhGAW3xfDsASQ-7vc.
2 ibid.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2410
LU r^ATP:._Sept21 2021 >Tt 
8:55 a.m.
E-FILED
TH.JE:
INI>EX
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM AGE OF ACCESS FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS, 
THEREBY AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 9211, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE TOBACCO REGULATION ACT OF 2003
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION. 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act
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of 2003 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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“Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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V. YOUNG PERSON - REFERS TO ANY PERSON BELOW
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TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OLD.”
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SEC. 2. Section 9 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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“Sec. 9. Minimum Age Sales. - Under this Act, it shall be unlawful:
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a. For any retailer of tobacco products to sell or distribute
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tobacco products to any YOUNG PERSON [minor];
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b. For any person to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products
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from a YOUNG PERSON [minor];
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c. For a YOUNG PERSON [minor] to sell or buy cigarettes or
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any tobacco product; and
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d. For a YOUNG PERSON [minor] to smoke cigarettes or
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USE any other tobacco products.
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It shall not be a defense for the person selling or distributing that he/she
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did not know or was not aware of the real age of the YOUNG PERSON


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[minor]. Neither shall it be a defense that he/she did not know nor had 
any reason to believe that the cigarette or any other tobacco product 
was for the consumption of the YOUNG PERSON [minor] to whom it 
was sold."
SEC. 3. Section 12 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 12. Proof of Age Verification. - In case of doubt as to the age of 
the buyer, retailers shall verify, by means of any valid form of 
photographic identification containing the date of birth of the bearer, 
that no individual purchasing a tobacco product is below TWENTY- 
ONE (21) [eighteen (18)] years of age.”
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
operational.
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances, 
rules and regulations and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,