Pemia told reporters yesterday.
"The Universal Health Care pro-
NEDA backs.,.
Finance Secretary Carlos
Dominguez said pas sing
Pacquiao's bill would close
the funding gap of P426 bll-
lion for the UHC over the
next five years, paving the
gram needs furding and I think sin
taxes are good sources of reyenue for
the funding requirements,j' he said.
The Department of Finance (DOF)
and the Department of Health (DOH)
are pushing for the passage of Senate
Bill 1599 filed by Sen. Manny Pac-
quiao seekng to increase the current
o uniform excise tax rate on cigarettes
o
N and other tobacco products {rom P35
to P60 per pack in the first year of its
to implementation and an additional
N
{dne,pgrcent per year thereafter
Aside from tobacco products, the
: DOF ard DOH are also pushilg for
the increase in excise taxes on alcohol
to at least P40 per liter and impose
a unitary tax system on fermented
o
to
liquors.
Pemia said that even if the bill is
&,
f passed into law, this is unlikely to
E stoke inflation anew as sin tax burden
has traditionally not been a large con-
kibutor to ir lation growth.
"Sin taxes haven't been a major
conhibutory factor to inflation " he
said, noting the current inflationary
pressures are still caused by the rise
in food prices.
Turn to 84
From Bl improve living standards na- It will be difficult to have
tionwide. the bill passed within the
way for its full implemen- The law expanding the 17th Congress as it will be
tation. provision of services under the in session only until June 7
President Duterte signed country's universal healthcare before its adjournment on
the UHC program inio law program would require as Iune 8 to make way for the
Iast February to promote good much as P1.44 trillion from next Congress that will open
health among Filipinos and 2020 to 2024. on luly 22.
t'Foqt-Blt'