Page 19 - SEPTEMBER 2017 B ISSUE

September 2017 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition
TOBACCO TAX IN TRAIN PUSHED
THAT’S what Dr. Antonio Miguel
Dans, University of the Philippines
College of Medicine professor in
cardiology and clinical epidemiology,
says will happen if tobacco tax will
not be included in the Tax Reform for
Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN),
the comprehensive tax reform proposed
by the Duterte administration.
In a recent interview on GMA News
TV’s ‘Bawal ang Pasaway,’ Dans, a staunch
supporter of the Sin Tax Reform Law or
Republic Act 10351 passed in 2012,
explains, the law’s effects are already
weakening because of the increasing
population and income—reason for the
need to impose higher tobacco taxes.
“That’s 550 new smokers every day.
So, every day we wait, nabubura na
yung health gains noong 2012,” Dans
tells ‘Bawal ang Pasaway’ host Winnie
Monsod. “Gawin na natin ngayon,
habang hindi pa dumadami.”
Since the implementation of the Sin
Tax Reform Law, the country’s tobacco
tax revenue nearly reached P332
AGUIRRE ON DOUBTS OVER KULOT’S IDENTITY
‘Imposibleng magkamali ang magulang’
JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre
II admitted Thursday that it would be
impossible for the parents of the slain
14-year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman
to make a mistake in identifying their
son.
In an interview with reporters on the
sidelines of the 3rd International Dialogue
on Human Trafficking, Aguirre said he is
inclined to conduct another DNA test on
the remains of De Guzman.
However, this would depend on the
decision of De Guzman’s parents.
“Ganito ang sabi ko kay [Public
Attorney’s Office] chief [Persida Acosta],
kasi sabi ko merong question diyan na
nire-raise ng PNP (Philippine National
Police)...I’m inclined to have the NBI
(National Bureau of Investigation) make
a second DNA examination kaya lang
nagproprotesta sila,” Aguirre said.
“Sabi nila papaano magkakamali ang
magulang na labing apat na taon kasama
niya na hindi ‘yan yung anak niya. So totoo
naman na hindi pa naman bloated yung
[katawan] eh kaya imposibleng magkamali
ang magulang kaya sabi ko bahala na
kayo,” he added.
Aguirre said he told Acosta to coordinate to return fire. n Marlly Rome C. Bondoc, RSJ,
with the NBI on whether the parents of De
IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS www.hello-philippines.com 19
billion from 2013 to 2016, according Prior to the rollout of the unitary
to the Department of Finance (DOF). “Mawawala lahat ng benepisyong One million more cigarette tax rate, the system evolved
The Health department, meanwhile, kinita natin sa kalusugan ng mga tao,” smokers by 2022 from four tiers to two under the Sin Tax
also cites tobacco taxation in the drop says Dans. Law, which took effect in 2013.
of smokers in the country—from 17 HB 4144 aims to have a tax rate of
million in 2009 to 15.9 million in 2015, Action for Economic Reforms (AER) P32 on low-end cigarette packs and P36 Diosana says the gradual process
based on the latest Philippines’ Global senior economist Jo-Ann Diosana on premium ones. helped attain the law’s objectives of
Adult Tobacco Survey. agrees. In an interview with GMA augmenting government funds and
News Online, Diosana explains, “If the According to Diosana, a higher reducing smoking prevalence in the
“80% of the total tobacco income, objective is to really strengthen the unitary tax rate is expected to produce country.
ginagamit sa healthcare,” Dans explains. Sin Tax Law, the proposal should be more revenues for the government until
“‘Yon yung dalawang pinakamalaking increasing further the unitary tax rate, the country sees fewer smokers. “One million Filipinos have quit
health benefit ng tao: huminto ng not reverting back to a two-tier system, tobacco use, the biggest decline we
paninigarilyo ang mga Pilipino at which, instead of pushing smokers to AER, together with more than have seen in Philippine history,” Health
magkaroon ng pera para sa healthcare.” quit, only encourages [them] to smoke 60 medical professional and health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said
more of the low-priced cigarettes.” advocacy groups, is working to push in March. “We need to sustain and
Higher unitary tax rate on cigarettes for the unitary rate hike to P60 by protect our gains in tobacco taxation,
seen to strengthen Sin Tax Law. House The Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012 2018. The proposal is seen to cut the expand the scope of smoke-free policies
Bill 4144, authored by ABS party-list imposes a P30 unitary tax on cigarette number of smokers by 1 million in and intensify our warnings against
Representative Eugene Michael de Vera, packs, an adjustment made only at the 2022 and reach the 19.6% smoking tobacco use.”
does not sit well with the professor start of this year. prevalence target under the Sustainable
also. The proposed measure seeks to Development Goals. It will also raise at Last May 16, 2017, President
revert the unitary tax on cigarettes to least P60 billion more in government Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order
a two-tiered system. De Vera claims the revenues. No. 26, which bans smoking in public
proposal, which was recently passed places.
in the Lower House and currently up
for review in the Senate, will generate Health officials say they are still
more revenue for the government. looking into pushing for the inclusion
of vape and e-cigarettes in the ban.
They also recently launched Quitline
for those who want to quit smoking—
reachable by calling the 165364
hotline or sending STOPSMOKE to
Guzman would authorize another DNA the (29290)165364 textline. n Presented
examination.
by SmokeFreePH | Published September 14, 2017
“Kayo na ang mag-usap ng NBI at
tsaka ng mga magulang. Pero apparently 7:37 PM
siyempre hindi mo naman ipipilit na i-DNA
‘yan pag ayaw ng magulang eh. Kaya ang
siyempre masusunod ang magulang,” he
said.
De Guzman’s body bore 30 stab wounds
while his head was wrapped in packaging
tape when he was found in a creek in
Gapan, Nueva Ecija.
He was laid to rest in Pasig Public
Cemetery on Wednesday morning despite
the result of PNP’s DNA test which showed
that the body was not that of De Guzman’s.
His parents, Eduardo and Lina Gabriel
insisted that the body that they have buried
was their son.
De Guzman is said to be the last person
seen in the company of 19-year-old Carl
Angelo Arnaiz, who police claim was killed
in a shootout with them. They said they
accosted Arnaiz after they saw him walking
near the area where a taxi driver said he
was held up at gunpoint But instead of
stopping to talk to the police, the boy
allegedly fired shots at them forcing them
GMA News | Published September 14, 2017 5:06 PM