Solon backs tax hike on junk food, sweetened drinks
A LAWMAKER on Friday backed the latest push by the Department of Finance (DoF) to pursue the increase of tax levied on junk food and sweetened beverages to address diseases arising from poor diet.
“Great minds really think alike. This admin push is also a bill we filed last March 7, 2023 as House Bill No. 7485,” said Anakalusugan Rep. Ray Reyes.
The aforementioned bill seeks to increase the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage the consumption of sugary beverages and increase revenue specifically intended to finance the implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act.
The bill proposes an amendment to Section 150-B of the National Internal Revenue Code, to read as follows: “SEC. 150-B. Sweetened Beverages. – (A) (1) A tax of eight pesos (P8.00) per liter of volume capacity shall be levied, assessed and collected on sweetened beverages using purely caloric sweeteners, and purely non-caloric sweeteners, or a mix of caloric and non-caloric sweeteners.
The new tax rate, if the proposal is enacted, will not apply to sweetened beverages using high fructose corn syrup, and exempts sweetened beverages using purely coconut sap sugar and purely steviol glycosides.
More importantly, the proposal pushes for “a tax of FIFTEEN pesos (P15.00) per liter of volume capacity shall be levied, assessed, and collected on sweetened beverages using purely high fructose corn syrup or in combination with any caloric or non-caloric sweetener.”
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that from January to December 2020, diabetes ranked fourth among the leading causes of death in the Philippines because of the consumption growth of highly processed foods and sugary beverages.
Despite the additional annual allocation for Philhealth for implementing the Universal Health Care Act reflected in the General Appropriations Act, a budget deficit still hinders its full implementation.
Health spending in the past years has risen due to the pandemic, but the expenditure program for the UHC in the national budget remained the same.
“This bill seeks to advance health equity by generating revenue for the government, which is proposed to finance the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act,” according to Reyes.
The lawmaker also expressed confidence that with the additional funding out of this tax measure, “the objectives of the Universal Health Care Act to promote the Filipinos’ right to health, equitable access to quality and affordable health care, and healthy living conditions will be realized.”
