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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No.__2247

House

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to improve on the existing health warnings on cigarette packaging.
As said warnings promote health awareness to cigarette smokers, the objective of this
measure is to instill environmental awareness by adding another label in cigarette
packages informing the consumer to dispose the cigarette litter properly, like other
garbage such as plastic candy wrappers.

The Constitution, Article 11 Section 16, provides:

“Section 16. State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature"

Thus, immediate passage of this bill is hereby sought

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MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO
Representative, 1 District
City of Marikina


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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No.__ 2247

House

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9211, OR "THE TOBACCO REGULATION ACT OF
2003", SECTION 13, ON WARNING ON CIGARETTE PACKAGES

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

SECTION 1. Section 13 of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 is hereby further
amended to read as follows

SECTION 13, Warnings on Cigarette Packages. - Under this Act

(a) All packages in which tobacco products are provided to consumers
withdrawn from the manufacturing facility of all manufactures or imported into the
Philippines intended for sale to the market, starting 1 January 2004, shall be printed, in
either English or Filipino, on a rotating basis or separately and simultaneously, the
following health warnings:

‘GOVERNMENT WARNING Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to Your Health:
‘GOVERNMENT WARNING: Cigarettes are Addictive”

“GOVERNMENT WARNING: Tobacco Smoke Can harm Your Children” or
“GOVERNMENT WARNING: Smoking Kills”

(b) Upon effectivity of this Act until 30 June 2006, the health warning shall be
located on side panel of every tobacco product package and occupy not less than fifty
percent (50%) of such side panel including any border of frame.

(c ) Beginning 1 July 2006, the health warning shall be located on the bottom
portion of one (1) front panel af every tobacco product package and occupy not less
than thirty percent (30%) of such front panel including any border or frame.

(d) The warnings shall be rotated periodically, or separately and simultaneously
printed, so that within any twenty-four (24) month period, the four (4) variations of the
warnings shall appear with proportionate frequency.

{e) The warning shall not be hidden or obscured by other printed information or
images, or printed in a location where tax or fiscal stamps are likely to be applied to the
package or place in a location where it will be damaged when the package is opened. If
the warning to be printed on the packages is likely o be obscured or obliterated by a
wrapper on the package, the warning must be printed on both the wrapper and the
package.

(f) In addition to the Health Waming, all packages of tobacco products that are
provided to consumers shall contain on one side panel, the following statement in a


clear, legible and conspicuous manner: "NO SALE TO MINORS” or “NOT FOR SALE
TO MINORS." The statement shall occupy an area of not less than ten percent (10%) of
such side panel and shall appear in contrast by color, typography or layout with all the
other printed material on the side panel,

(g) IN ADDITION TO THE HEALTH WARNING AND THE MESSAGE REQUIRED
IN PRECEDING PARAGRAPH, ALL PACKAGES OF TOBACCO PRODUCT THAT ARE
PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS SHALL CONTAIN, ON THE SIDE PANEL OPPOSITE
OF WHICH THAT CONTAINS THE MESSAGE REQUIRED PRECEDING
PARAGRAPH, THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN A CLEAR LEGIBLE AND
CONSPICUOUS MANNER: “PLEASE DISPOSE OF ALL CIGARETTE WASTE
PROPERLY. DO NOT LITTER. THE STATEMENT SHALL OCCUPY AN AREA AND
APPEAR AS THE MESSAGE IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH.

(h) No other printed warnings, except the health warning and the MESSAGES
required in this Section, PARAGRAPHS F. AND G. shall be placed on cigarette
packages.

SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affected the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions not affected thereby

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts , decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act,
are

hereby modified and repealed

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its Publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,