Tobacco control advocates have welcomed the appointment of Teodoro Herbosa as the Secretary of the Department of Health which came 18 months after the Marcos administration assumed the government in 2022.

In a joint statement, the HealthJustice Philippines, Parents Against Vape, Action for Economic Reforms and Philippine Legislator's Committee on Population and Development said they are confident that Herbosa will continue to support strong tobacco control efforts, including increased funding for tobacco prevention and stronger regulation of e-cigarette use.

They added that in doing so, it would help reduce cases of tobacco-related diseases.

"We have great confidence in Secretary Ted Herbosa's leadership to address pressing issues of DOH, and the health sector, including the tobacco epidemic in the Philippines, to achieve a healthy country," the group said.

They recalled that Herbosa — during his stint as DoH undersecretary under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III — was very active as a proponent of six tax measures on tobacco products.

Approving the sin tax bill will lead to an increase in the prices of tobacco, which will discourage the youth from smoking and reduce cigarette consumption among established smokers, Herbosa said in 2012 during the campaign to increase tobacco tax.

Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Law was passed in 2013.

"He is a champion of universal health care, health taxes, the welfare of health workers, the use of health technology assessment and the use of digitalization, the access to cheap essential medicines, the promotion of alcohol and tobacco control, and the attention to road safety," said the AER in a statement.

"We especially recognize his contribution to the passage of a series of sin taxes, resulting in higher revenues for government, higher budget for health programs particularly universal healthcare, and significant reduction specifically of smoking prevalence," it added.

The sin tax law, which requires steady increases in excise taxes on tobacco, significantly contributed to the decrease in smoking prevalence among adult Filipinos.