PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent a proposed Senate bill increasing excise tax on liquor, e-cigarettes, and vapor products, including electronic cigarettes. The specific tax rate will increase by 10 percent every year thereafter. The bill also proposes to increase e-cigarettes (under the heat-not-burn product category) rates from P10 per pack to P45 per pack on the first year. Wine products will also be slapped with a specific tax of P600 per liter for sparkling, and P43 per liter for still and carbonated wines. If passed into law, the measure could generate P47.9 billion for the Universal Health Care program next year, and a total of P356.9 billion for the program over the next five years based on Department of Finance estimates.

Source: Manila Times November 12, 2019 11:38 UTC