MANILA, Philippines — Senators have assured the public of sufficient funding for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program even as Congress is still drafting a final version of the bill raising tobacco taxes anew. “Let us put it this way: it is not imperative to pass higher tobacco tax just to be able to implement the UHC program of the government. The UHC bill, a priority of President Duterte, is ready to be signed into law. Health and anti-tobacco groups have threatened to deny re-electionist lawmakers of five million votes for allegedly sitting on the proposed hike in tobacco tax. Smokers, who now number at 16 million, will absorb the cost of the tobacco tax increase once Congress approves the proposed P60 per pack tax on cigarettes.

Source: Philippine Star February 17, 2019 16:14 UTC