Daven Tamayo

Lawmakers want higher tax in sweetened drinks to curb obesity

People carry a beverage while traversing the streets in Manila on April 3, 2024. Health experts advise the public to take precautions and stay hydrated as the country experiences high heat levels amid the dry season recently announced by PAGASA. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Three lawmakers filed a bill seeking to amend RA 10963 or the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which will include an increase in taxes, to reduce &quot;the prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases.&quot;If the bill is passed, P20 per liter of volume capacity will be collected on certain kinds of sweetened beverages instead of P6.Meanwhile, sweetened beverages specifically using purely high fructose corn syrup or in combination with any caloric or non-caloric sweetener will be slapped with a tax of P40 instead of the current P12.“In-emphasize ni [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] ‘yung need para sa exercise and more activities, physical activities. So palagay kung nakita ito more of a health measure than a tax measure, ‘yan ang gusto namin. ‘Yan ang strategy na gusto namin gawin,” Albay 1st District Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman said after being asked how they would rally support for the bill.The other two lawmakers who filed the bill are Dinagat Islands Lone District Rep. Kaka Bag-ao and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.

Three lawmakers filed a bill seeking to amend the TRAIN Law, which will include an increase in taxes, to reduce "the prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases."

Three lawmakers filed a bill seeking to amend the TRAIN Law, which will include an increase in taxes, to reduce "the prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases."