Angara lauds signing of law on higher sin tax for tobacco

Sen. Sonny Angara (INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday lauded the signing of the law that would increase further the excise tax imposed on tobacco products.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the law which seeks to aid in funding the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.

READ: BREAKING: Duterte signs higher sin tax for tobacco

“We welcome the enactment of Republic Act 11346 or the increase in the excise tax on tobacco products. We worked on passing this measure as the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the previous Congress with the goal of generating additional revenues to help fund the gap for the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act,” Angara, who sponsored the law, said in a statement.

Angara said that the law would not only help in funding the UHC, but it would also reduce the number of smokers in the country as well as discourage the youth from smoking.

“Apart from funding the UHC to provide all Filipinos with affordable and quality health care, RA 11346 will also result in a reduction of in the number of smokers by raising the prices of cigarettes, heated tobacco and vapor products,” Angara said.

“We want to discourage the youth from taking up smoking and also reduce deaths and disabilities brought about by smoking,” he added.

Under the bill, the tax on cigarettes would be raised by P10 per pack starting January 1, 2020 — from the current P35 per pack to P45. This would rise again to P50 in 2021, P55 in 2022, and P60 in 2023./ac