Former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan was named a “Health Tax Hero” by Sin Tax Coalition, a group composed of doctors and health reform advocates, because of his pro-health policies and his support for taxing tobacco, vape, and alcohol products. 

The coalition held its Health Tax Heroes and Hazards Forum and Creative Action on April 8 to call on candidates for the 2025 midterm elections to make public health a priority and to commit to raising taxes on tobacco, vape, and alcohol to protect Filipinos, particularly the youth, from their harmful effects. 

Pangilinan was one of the lawmakers named by the Sin Tax Coalition as its “Health Tax Hero” for supporting the taxing of harmful products to help fund critical health care programs. 

The doctors’ group also urged the candidates to adopt their policy, “Tax Yosi, Vape, at Alak Now,” which called on lawmakers to not only strengthen but expand the sin tax law. 

During his first term as senator in 2004, Pangilinan voted in favor of the bill to increase excise tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products.

In 2012, Pangilinan voted in favor of the bicameral committee report on the proposed measure to tax tobacco and alcohol products, which later became Republic Act 10351 or An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco Products. 

During the 17th Congress in 2019, he also voted in favor of increasing excise taxes on tobacco products to fund human resource development programs for health professionals. 

Health advocates have warned that the Philippines is currently facing a smoking and drinking epidemic, with more than 115,000 Filipinos dying yearly because of these products.