CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH TOBACCO TAX

MR. PRESIDENT, FELLOW LEGISLATORS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD AFTERNOON. Maayong hapon sa inyong tanan!

As a senator, I made a commitment to fight for the welfare of the Filipino people. I could not afford to play it safe. I choose my battles well, even if it means going against the giants. I keep reminding myself that I am here to fulfill my obligation: COUNTRY ABOVE SELF.

On October 3, 2017, I filed Senate Bill 1599, "AN ACT RAISING THE EXCISE TAX ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT SECTIONS OF THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, AS AMENDED."

Smoking cigarettes is unhealthy and it is highly addicting. We need to fight smoking, the toxic and dangerous enemy of the human body. Most of the victims are from the youth and marginalized sectors, people who have no means of paying for the harmful effects of smoking.

Today, it is my honor to CO-SPONSOR Senate Bill Number 2233, in substitution of Senate Bill Numbers 1599, 1605 and 2177 taking into consideration House Bill Number 8677 under Committee Report Number 714 as presented by the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. President, I am grateful that I am not alone in pushing for this measure to increase the Tobacco Tax. This initiative has received tremendous support from the Department of Health, Department of Finance, health advocates, youth groups, and stakeholders like the Sin Tax Coalition. President Rodrigo Duterte even approved the recommendation of the DOH and DOF to back this bill. MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME SHOW YOU THIS VIDEO... (show 30 seconder ad produced by DOF & DOH)

Together with Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Win Gatchalian, and Senator Angara, I am urging our esteemed colleagues to pass SENATE BILL NUMBER 2233, "AN ACT INCREASING THE EXCISE TAX ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS, THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF PROVISIONS ON ARTICLES SUBJECT TO EXCISE TAX, AND EARMARKING INCREMENTAL TOBACCO EXCISE TAX FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PROGRAMS TO COMBAT ILLICIT TOBACCO TRADE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTIONS 145, 164, 260, 262, 263, 265 AND 288(C) OF THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10963, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Under this measure, we shall impose an excise tax based on the following schedules: Effective on January 1, 2020, P45.00 PER PACK; Effective on January 1, 2021, P50.00 PER PACK; Effective on January 1, 2022, P55.00 PER PACK; Effective on January 1, 2023, P60.00 PER PACK; By INCREASING TOBACCO TAX, we would prevent new smokers during the implementation and we would be able to raise revenues and funding for the UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

For the record, the House of Representatives has already approved their version of Tobacco Tax Increase which is one of their priority measures. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stated in the letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III that they, and I quote, "await the action of the Senate and stand ready to adopt the Senate version in the interest of speedy legislation," end of quote.

The time is ticking before we end the 17th Congress. Let us not waste our time and efforts. Let us do what we have to do with courage.

Mr. President, mga kapwa ko senador, sama-sama nating i-knock-out si Yosi Kadiri at magtulungan tayo na pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng sambayanan. MARAMING SALAMAT PO!