Health chief welcomes higher tax on tobacco products

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III welcomed on Friday President Duterte’s signing into law of Republic Act No. 11346, which imposes a higher tax on tobacco. He said the new law would assure funding for the government’s universal health care program and also help curb smoking prevalence in the country. Under the law, the current P35 tax on cigarettes will be raised to P45 next year and adjusted by P5 yearly until it reaches P60 per pack in 2023. Thereafter, a 5-percent annual increase will be implemented. The government is expected to collect P15 billion in the first year alone from the tax measure.