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SB No. 2233 - Sin tax bill: Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto today met with officials and technical staff from the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to discuss Senate Bill No. 2233 that proposes to increase the excise tax on tobacco products, which has been certified urgent by the President.

Recto asked the DOF and DOH for additional data detailing the total Sin Tax collection, the breakdown of how it will be spent and the total cost of implementing the Universal Health Care (UHC) law.

During last night’s interpellation, he asked the bill sponsor and Ways & Means chair Senator Sonny Angara if the government has been diligent in giving the Sin tax collection share for the implementation of UHC. Angara’s answer was “No.”

“Malaki ang utang ng national government sa PhilHealth at DOH. ‘Yan ang pangakong napapako,” Recto added.

Angara also replied “No” when Recto asked him if the Senate or Congress has ever passed tax measures during a lame duck session.

“We are creating a precedent. We just came from an election with a number of new incoming senators. Shouldn’t we give them the chance to have a say on this important measure?” Recto said.

Recto said that although the reason for raising tobacco tax is laudable, which is to help reduce smoke-related deaths and diseases, and augment funding for Universal Health Care (UHC) law, ample time should be given to legislators to deliberate its pros and cons. “We should not rush the passage of this measure as the public will end up shouldering the cost.”