MANILA, Philippines — The bicameral conference committee meetings on the proposed law increasing excise tax rates on liquor, heated tobacco, and vapor products may start December 12.
“We expect to bicam by Thursday next week,” said House ways and means committee chair and Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda in an interview Wednesday.
He is the main proponent of House Bill No. 1026, which seeks to gradually increase excise tax rates on liquor and heated tobacco as well as vapor products. The lower chamber already approved this proposed measure on August 20.
The Senate may approve their counterpart measure, Senate Bill No. 1074, on December 10 or anytime before December 12, according to Salceda. SB 1074 is currently at the period of interpellations in the Senate.
READ: House OKs bill hiking taxes on alcohol, e-cigar, vape products on final reading
President Rodrigo Duterte recently certified as urgent SB 1074 as he called for a ban on the importation and use of vapes in public spaces. This means the Senate can approve the bill on second and final reading within the same day.
The versions of the two chambers will have to be reconciled at the bicam meetings before the proposed law could be ratified by Congress and then sent to Duterte for his consideration.
READ: Duterte bans use, importation of e-cigarettes
The incremental revenues that will be generated from the measure will fund social services, particularly the implementation of the Universal Health Care law.