EDITORIAL - Lightning speed

With uncharacteristic speed, the House of Representatives recently approved a bill restoring a multi-tier tax system for tobacco products. The passage of House Bill 4144 in record time went against recommendations not only of the Department of Finance, which opposes the abolition of a unitary tobacco tax system, but also of the Department of Health.

DOH officials along with health advocates have raised concern that the restoration of the multi-tier tax system would make low-end cigarettes cheaper and more readily available to the masses. This would defeat the purpose of the campaign to discourage smoking, including the latest measure requiring graphic health warnings on every pack of cigarettes.

President Duterte, who suffers from a smoker’s illness that can be aggravated by even second-hand smoke, did not certify HB 4144 as urgent. Yet the measure passed the House with lightning speed, even as his revenue officials are working on a tax reform program. The sin tax reform law has not yet even been fully implemented. The House health committee under Rep. Pia Cayetano had sought further deliberations on HB 4144, but the call was ignored by the House ways and means committee led by Rep. Dakila Cua.

Although tax measures emanate from the House, the Senate will have its say before any bill becomes law. Senators can still ask the health and finance departments for their inputs on cigarette taxation, balancing the needs of tobacco farmers and cigarette manufacturers, with priority given to the requirements of public health.