Duque lauds Duterte’s approval of higher alcohol, cigar taxes

MANILA -- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of higher excise taxes for alcohol and tobacco products.

“We are happy with the support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has given to our proposal to increase excise taxes to at least PHP60 from the current PHP35 per pack of cigarettes and an increase of at least PHP40 per liter for fermented liquors and distilled spirits,” he said in a statement released Friday ni ght .

He added that their new proposed measures will help fund the Universal Health Care (UHC) and build a healthier soci et y.

“It will also encourage a healthier lifestyle for Filipinos and lower the number of poor lifestyle-related diseases through reduced consumption of alcohol and cigarettes,” he said.

Duque thanked the Department of Finance, together with Duterte, for making public health a priority.

“We also thank our colleagues at the Senate and House of Representatives for their efforts in lobbying for policies that will put primacy to public health. We look forward to coordinating with relevant stakeholders until a reconciled version of the bill is ratified,” he said.

On Monday, Duterte agreed to certify as urgent two measures meant to raise excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products to fund the government’s UHC pr ogr am.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this pertains to Sen at or Manny Pacquiao’s Senate Bill No. 1599, which sought to further increase the excise tax on tobacco products.

Under the measure, the current cigarette tax rate of PHP30 per pack will increase to PHP60 per pack. This is aside from the annual increase of 9 percent from the current 4 percent increase in excise tax. ( PNA)