MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as a priority measure a bill seeking to increase the taxes on alcohol products, heated tobacco products and vapor products or e-cigarettes.
The President sent a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III to “certify the necessity” of passing Senate Bill No. 1074.
Duterte pointed out the “urgent need to generate additional revenue to support the effective implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and to further protect the right to health of the people.”
The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Pia Cayetano, passed the committee level last September. Its counterpart bill has been approved in the House.
If passed, the measure could generate P47.9 billion in revenues for the Universal Health Care program next year, and P356.9 billion for the program over the next five years.