NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1 5
THE
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BY:
\HDEX
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
During a time when the world 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 a 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
1 Mocon-Ciriaco, C. (2020, November 11). DOH, PPS push for tobacco cessation, cite Covid-19 risks. 
Business Mirror, https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/ll/ll/doh-pps-push-for-tobacco-cessation-cite- 
covid-19-risks/
2 Mocon-Ciriaco, C. (2020, November 11). DOH, PPS push for tobacco cessation, cite Covid-19 risks. 
Business Mirror, https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/ll/ll/doh-pps-push-for-tobacco-cessation-cite- 
covid-19-risks/


the society.
This bill, which the undersigned also filed in the 18th Congress, 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.
PI A s. cayItanoak


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1 ■tS
DATE:
BILLS
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 Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9211 or the " Tobacco Regulation Act
2 
of2003"\s hereby amended to read as follows:
3 
"Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
4 
V. YOUNG PERSON - REFERS TO ANY PERSON BELOW TWENTY-
5 
ONE (21) YEARS OLD."
6 
Sec. 2. Section 9 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
7 
"Sec. 9. Minimum Age Sales. - Under this Act, it shall be unlawful:
8 
a. For any retailer of tobacco products to sell or distribute tobacco
9 
products to any YOUNG PERSON [minor];
10 
b. For any person to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products from a
11 
YOUNG PERSON [minor];
12 
c. For a YOUNG PERSON [minor] to sell or buy cigarettes or any
13 
tobacco product; and
14 
d. For a YOUNG PERSON [minor] to smoke cigarettes or USE any other
15 
tobacco products.
16 
It shall not be a defense for the person selling or distributing that he/she
17 
did not know or was not aware of the real age of the YOUNG PERSON [minor].
18 
Neither shall it be a defense that he/she did not know nor had any reason to
1


1 
believe that the cigarette or any other tobacco product was for the consumption
2 
of the YOUNG PERSON [minor] to whom it was sold."
3 
Sec. 3. Section 12 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
4 
"Sec. 12. Proof of Age Verification. - In case of doubt as to the age of the buyer,
5 
retailers shall verify, by means of any valid form of photographic identification
6 
containing the date of birth of the bearer, that no individual purchasing a tobacco
7 
product is below TWENTY-ONE (21) [eighteen (18)] years of age."
8 
Sec. 4. Separabiiity Ciause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared
9 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and
10 
operational.
11 
Sec. 5. Repeaiing Ciause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, circulars, issuances,
12 
rules and regulations and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
13 
repealed, 
amended 
or 
modified 
accordingly.
14 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
15 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
16 
Philippines.
Approved,