MANILA — A senior House leader is pushing for a unitary tax on vape products, citing alarming data on youth nicotine use, while a major tobacco company has expressed support for the proposal. 

Marikina Second District Representative Romero “Miro” Quimbo, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said during a hearing on February 23 that the current tiered tax system has created loopholes that make vaping more accessible to young people.

Quimbo pointed to figures from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), which showed that nicotine use among Filipinos aged 10 to 19 rose from 0.8 percent in 2015 to 3.2 percent in 2019, before skyrocketing to 39.9 percent in 2023. 

“In just four years, vaping among youth nicotine users increased more than tenfold, reflecting both an influx of new nicotine users and the aggressive marketing of these products,” Quimbo said.

The lawmaker argued that a uniform excise tax would simplify regulation, curb misdeclaration of products, and help the government collect more revenue. He also stressed that vaping has become a “lifestyle product” among Filipinos, making taxation an important tool to discourage excessive use.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and industry stakeholders echoed Quimbo’s call, noting that around 450,000 unregistered and illegal vape products were destroyed in Quezon City late last year. 

A leading tobacco company also backed the proposal, saying that a unitary tax would ensure fair competition among legitimate businesses while addressing public health concerns.

The House panel is currently reviewing several bills that seek to overhaul the excise tax system for vape products. Lawmakers are expected to deliberate further on the measure in the coming weeks, with health advocates urging swift action to protect young Filipinos from nicotine addiction.

If passed, the unitary tax could reshape the vaping industry in the Philippines, balancing fiscal priorities with the urgent need to safeguard public health.