Senate tackles sin tax bill

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Thursday began discussing the sin tax bill.

Present during the hearing were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Franklin Drilon and Ways and Means committee chair Ralph Recto.

Also present were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Internal Revenue Secretary Kim Jacinto-Henares, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregorio Zaragoza and National Tax Research Center Executive Director Trinidad Rodriguez.

Representatives from private alcohol and tobacco companies, and farmer groups were also present.

House Bill 5727 or “An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco Products, popularly called sin tax bill, aims to increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco products supposedly to increase government income to be used for health care services.