BOC urged to increase tax exemptions for sports and wellness goods
Bureau of Customs (BOC) | FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to increase the tax exemptions for sports and health improvement goods in order to encourage physical wellness, as well allow Filipino athletes better access to equipment.
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Rep. Margarita Nograles said that the BOC should amend its de minimis rate or the tax exemption of goods from P10,000 to P50,000 only for sporting equipment.
“The P10,000 de minimis value for imported goods will remain with the exception of sporting gears and equipment. If we do this, we can have free gyms in every barangay and we can encourage our population to have an active lifestyle,” said Nograles in a statement on Friday.
As it stands, the BOC will tax importation goods worth over P10,000 with a 15% Customs duty and 12% value added tax.
According to Nograles, sports equipment in the Philippines are expensive due to high importation costs.
She also claimed that the government could save billions of pesos on health problems such as obesity, various types of heart diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more, which could be prevented with proper lifestyle and exercise.
“We have to invest in the health of our people by encouraging them to have a very active lifestyle. This could also encourage them to avoid disease-causing vices like smoking, alcoholism, and drug addiction. This will help us have a healthy and productive population,” Nograles said.
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