When borrowings increase, we are having difficulties in financing our programs,” he pointed out. So, we really need to increase (tax) collection to decrease the deficit,” he warned. “Cigarette smuggling is really run by syndicates. In rice smuggling the farmers are being hit, but there is no devastation on the health of the people,” he noted. But running after smugglers should go beyond political party lines.

Source: Philippine Star January 22, 2026 16:37 UTC