HOUSE 1F REPRESENTATIVES

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Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

DATE. 3.0 HO ceen

Quezon City, Metro Manila TIME:
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REGISTRATION UNIT
First Regular Session {_ BALLS AND INDEX SERVICE __| BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

401

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Rodrigo A. Abellanosa

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Cigarette-smoking has been shown to be among the leading causes of death and
diseases all over the world. 2013 statistics show that almost 200 Filipinos are
killed by tobacco-caused diseases everyday or roughly 71,850 each year. Despite
these staggering numbers, 505,600 children and more than 15,570,000 adults
continue to use tobacco habitually.’

Studies made by the World Health Organization show that tobacco use is one of
the biggest public health threats facing the world today killing around 6 million
people worldwide. More than 5 million of those deaths are the result of direct
tobacco use while more than 600,000 are the result of non-smokers being
exposed to secondhand smoke.i

Republic Act 10381 also known as the Sin Tax Law, increased the levies imposed
on tobacco products, not only for the purpose of generating national revenues to
fund health programs, but also in hopes of reducing the number of tobacco
consumers. The impact of this law has been outstanding but there is more that
needs to be done to curb tobacco consumption that undeniably has dire effects
on our citizenry’s health and well-being.

‘The current administration has well expressed its concern regarding the issue on
cigarettes. In this connection, this bill, to be known as the Cigarette Holidays Act,
proposes the observation of a Cigarette Holiday every 15' of each month when
smoking and selling cigarettes shall be strictly prohibited and penalized.

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Aside from health concerns, with the average cigarette consumption of Filipinos
at 11 sticks per day as of 209i, the Filipino household is also expected to save
approximately Php66 for every smoker in the family every cigarette holiday or
Php792 yearly (using an approximate retail price per stick of Php6).

Our people are this nation’s most precious resource. Let us all work together in
ensuring that they lead healthy and productive lives.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA

"http://www tobaccoatlas.org/country-data/philippines/
4 hutp:/ /www.who int/mediacentre / factsheets / 339 /en/
4 hittp://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/gats_philippines,fact_sheet,pdfPua=1


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

401

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Rodrigo A. Abellanosa

AN ACT

DECLARING THE 15™ DAY OF EVERY MONTH AS CIGARETTE HOLIDAY,

PROHIBITING THE USE AND SALE OF CIGARETTES DURING ITS

OBSERVATION AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title, This Act shall be known as the “Cigarette Holidays Act."

Section 2. Period of observation of the Cigarette Holidays. The 15% day of every
month is hereby declared as Cigarette Holiday whence the use and sale of
cigarettes are prohibited.

Section 3. Penalties.

a)

b)

Any person who shall be caught smoking cigarettes during the

observance of the holidays shall suffer the penalty of:

i, A fine of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000) for the first offense;

ii. A fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (Php25,000) for the second

offense; or

Arresto menor, or imprisonment for a period of one to thirty days

and a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000) for succeeding

offenses,

Any person who shall be caught selling cigarettes during the observance

of the holidays shall suffer the penalty of:

i, A fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000) for the first offense;

ii, Arresto menor, or imprisonment for a period of one to thirty days and
a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000) for the second offense; or

iii, Arresto mayor, or imprisonment for a period of one month and one
day to six months and a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 100,000) for succeeding offenses.



Section 4. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Act or any part
thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from
the invalid ones, shall remain in force and effect.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation inconsistent
with this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

Section 6, Effectivity. ‘This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,