Marilyn Cahatol

Workers repack different types of sugar at a store in Visayas Avenue Wet And Dry Public Market in Quezon City on February 16, 2023. The Sugar Regulatory Administration recently approved the importation 440,000 metric tons of sugar for 2023 meant to augment the local supply and expected to curb the rising retail price of sugar in markets. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175741336964420230216-sugar-market-repack-MT-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Workers repack different types of sugar at a store in Visayas Avenue Wet And Dry Public Market in Quezon City on February 16, 2023. The Sugar Regulatory Administration recently approved the importation 440,000 metric tons of sugar for 2023 meant to augment the local supply and expected to curb the rising retail price of sugar in markets. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers repack different types of sugar at a store in Visayas Avenue Wet And Dry Public Market in Quezon City on February 16, 2023. The Sugar Regulatory Administration recently approved the importation 440,000 metric tons of sugar for 2023 meant to augment the local supply and expected to curb the rising retail price of sugar in markets. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Health is proposing to expand taxes on products with negative effect on health, to lower its consumption and add more revenues to help improve the healthcare system.</p><p>At a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Health chaired by Rep. Ciriaco Gato, Jr., Health Secretary Ted Herbosa presented the department’s Health Executive Agenda for Legislation (HEAL) to list the agency’s priority projects or plans. One of these is to expand the tax for health.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/3/5/medical-groups-declare-alcohol-tobacco-and-vape-epidemic-among-youth-2026">Medical groups declare alcohol, tobacco and vape epidemic among youth</a></div><p>“Reduce consumption of unhealthy goods through price disincentives, thereby lowering the burden of non-communicable diseases and associated health expenditures,” Herbosa said.</p><p>He proposed to impose excise taxes for pre-packaged food with high salt and sugar content and have low nutritional value. This covers what are called junk foods like chips. </p><p>He also wants to increase tax for sugar-sweetened beverages and expand the coverage products.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/7/9/health-advocates-call-for-increase-in-taxes-of-alcoholic-beverages-1827">Health advocates call for increase in taxes of alcoholic beverages to reduce consumption</a></div><p>Herbosa added that he also personally needs to cut down sugar intake for health reasons. </p><p>“I would support any additional tax on sugar. I’m overweight… I spend P7,000 a week for Ozempic to lower my weight, which is prescribed by the way,” Herbosa said.</p><p>One of the projects in HEAL is also to reduce salt consumption. Herbosa wants mandatory salt reformulation for companies producing food with salt, as well as the introduction of front-of-pack labeling system for pre-packaged food. </p><p>This would put the sugar or salt content and other nutritional information on the front part of the product.</p><p>Herbosa noted that the revenues collected from tax for health laws like the sin tax have improved the services of the DOH. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/8/19/-i-think-we-are-succeeding-marcos-says-zero-billing-in-doh-hospitals-proceeding-well-1320">&#x27;Ikalat natin&#x27;: Marcos says &#x27;zero billing&#x27; in DOH hospitals &#x27;proceeding well&#x27;</a></div><p>In 2024, he said total sin tax collection hit more than P290 billion. These are from tobacco, alcoholic drinks, sugar-sweetened beverage, and heated tobacco products and vape.</p><p>Other plans included in HEAL include the establishment of the  National Center for Geriatric Health, strengthen the National Center for Mental Health charter, amend the magna carta for public health workers, and push for a magna carta for barangay health workers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hwynDtOrxew?si=C2v2X8p62i7M3dXD" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Health is proposing to expand taxes on products with negative effect on health, to lower its consumption and add more revenues to help improve the healthcare system.</p>

The Department of Health is proposing to expand taxes on products with negative effect on health, to lower its consumption and add more revenues to help improve the healthcare system.

DOH wants to expand taxes on unhealthy goods

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DOH wants to expand taxes on unhealthy goods

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 09, 2025 06:45 PM PHT

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