Amid rising concerns in many countries about the health risks of electronic cigarettes and vapes, Senator Pia S. Cayetano reiterated that Congress has the jurisdiction to impose higher taxes on these products as a means to regulate their use.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Cayetano made the assertion at the start of plenary debates on Senate Bill No. 1074, which seeks to raise ‘sin’ taxes on alcohol and vaping products.
Responding to the questions of Senator Francis Tolentino, Cayetano clarified that Congress has already imposed taxes on e-cigarettes since the enactment of Republic Act 11346 earlier this year.
Tolentino had asked Cayetano whether Congress can impose a tax on e-cigarettes, even if these products have yet to be given certification by the government through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“As to whether we can tax a product that’s not been given permission to be sold, let me point out that under RA 11346, we (lawmakers) have already taxed e-cigarettes,” Cayetano noted.
“So this committee is not proposing a new kind of tax. It’s already recognized by Congress under its jurisdiction. This committee is just increasing that tax,” she added.
Cayetano pointed out that taxation is “just one tool” that would help curb these new kinds of vices. She said other pro-health initiatives should be put in place to complement the sin tax bill.
“Taxation is not the end-all, be-all. So we must help our health department come up with measures to provide a health approach to the problem of smoking and drinking,” she said, while expressing her plan to push for additional regulatory measures on e-cigarettes.
The senator said she is in the process of drafting a bill mandating the government to “look into the harmful effects of e-cigarettes,” which shall be referred to the Committee on Health.
She also intends to draft a measure that would regulate the marketing and ban the advertising of e-cigarettes in the country.
“Exposure to these products will be dangerous because the science is not yet clear about its dangers. I’m concerned for the young people in general as these products can easily entice them,” she explained.
“Our goal is to reduce people’s consumption of these sin products, on top of generating more revenues to finance our Universal Health Care program,” she stressed.
A total of 42 countries worldwide have already banned the use of e-cigarettes, while 10 countries banned the use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) due to growing evidence that such products are dangerous to people’s health.
Earlier this year, the FDA gave manufacturers, importers, and retailers of e-cigarettes three months to register and comply with specific regulations before they could sell their products legally.
These include a license to operate and the issuance of a certificate of product registration. The three-month period is set to end this October. #
Senator Pia Cayetano: Taxation is “just one tool” to help curb new kinds of vices. She said other pro-health initiatives should be put in place to complement the sin tax bill.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee, under the chairmanship of Senator Pia S. Cayetano, has presented to the plenary Senate Bill No. 1074 seeking to increase excise taxes on sin products, with the objective of augmenting funds for universal health care and protecting citizens, particularly the youth, from the harmful effects of drinking and electronic cigarettes.
Delivering her sponsorship speech on Wednesday (September 25), Cayetano stressed the need to impose “significantly higher” tax rates on alcohol, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in order to safeguard Filipinos’ health and wellbeing.
Cayetano’s committee is proposing the following excise tax rates for the different types of alcohol products:
Distilled spirits: an ad valorem tax of 20% and a specific tax of Php 90 per proof liter on Year 1, to be increased by Php10 every year until Year 4, and by 10% every year thereafter.
For fermented liquor and alcopops: a specific tax rate of Php 45 per liter on Year 1, to be increased by Php10 every year until Year 4, and by 10% every year thereafter.
For wine products: a specific tax of Php 600 per liter for sparkling wines and Php 43 per liter for still and carbonated wines, to be increased by 10% every year thereafter.
The Ways and Means Chair explained that the specific tax rate on distilled spirits was raised to Php 90 because they have the highest alcohol content among the different types of alcohol products, and as such are the most harmful to people’s health.
Furthermore, the Committee proposed to tax e-cigarettes, HTPs, and vape products the same rate as conventional tobacco products.
The Committee proposed to tax HTPs at P45 per pack of 20 in 2020, increasing such rate to P5 per pack per year like regular cigarettes. For vape products, the recommendation is to tax those containing freebase nicotine at P45 per 10ml or a fraction thereof; and those containing nicotine salts at P45 per 1ml or a fraction thereof.
Alcohol
In pushing for higher taxes on alcohol, Cayetano said there is “glaring evidence” that the excessive use of such products endangers people’s health.
“Alcoholism is associated with at least 39 main diseases, including liver cirrhosis, cancer, pancreatic disease, hypertensive disease, tuberculosis, diabetes, and even behavioral and psychotic disorders,” she said, citing a report by the Global Burden of Disease Study.
Also, World Health Organization data revealed that in 2016, 4,431 per 100,000 population of Filipinos died from liver cirrhosis; while 16,418 died from hypertensive diseases; and 8,526 from tuberculosis.
“All of which were due to the excessive use of alcohol,” Cayetano pointed out.
“The impact of our problem on alcoholism is not felt by the drinker alone,” she further stressed, adding that excessive drinking is also a common cause of road crashes and a contributor to family violence.
The senator lamented that, with these products becoming more accessible to vulnerable sectors, there is a risk that these numbers and incidents would continue to grow. Hence, the need to increase their prices and make them less affordable.
Cayetano said the measure seeks to address the high drinking prevalence among Filipinos, who on average are already consuming 11 liters of hard alcoholic beverages per year. This is higher than the global and ASEAN averages of below 10 liters.
“Global champion na po tayo, sa inuman. But that is not something we should be proud of,” the senator said, adding that the prices of alcohol in the country should not be so cheap as to allow Filipinos, especially the young people, to easily have access to them.
E-cigs and HTPs
“For the sake of our children, we must regulate and tax e-cigarettes at parity with regular tobacco products. Other countries are already doing this. We should at least keep pace. Vaping is not cool when it leads our kids to the path of new addictions,” Cayetano said about e-cigarette products.
The senator questioned the position of manufacturers and distributors who claimed that e-cigarettes are a viable and less harmful alternative to conventional smoking.
“The industry claims that it is a safer product but medical experts have pointed out that safer does not mean safe or risk-free. We have already seen and heard an avalanche of news of people who died because of lung failure in the United States – people who were consistent users of these vape products,” she said.
“Thus, Mr. President, this representation asks that we err on the side of caution,” she added during her speech.
Apart from the sin tax bill, Cayetano said she plans to file more measures seeking to address the country’s problems associated with alcoholism and the dangers of vaping among the youth.
“This Committee is tasked with the taxation of these products. But this, in no way, limits DOH [Department of Health] and Congress to undertake steps to protect the health of the people,” she said.
“We remain cognizant that taxation is just one tool and that a comprehensive strategy is necessary. We urge DOH [Department of Health] to work with our medical community on this through aggressive interventions and policies.” #
Senator Pia Cayetano: “Global champion na po tayo, sa inuman. But that is not something we should be proud of.”Senator Pia Cayetano: “For the sake of our children, we must regulate and tax e-cigarettes at parity with regular tobacco products.
Senator Pia S. Cayetano appealed to alcohol industry players to refrain from misleading the public into thinking that raising ‘sin’ taxes on alcoholic beverages, which would also increase the cost of these products, is detrimental to Filipinos, particularly the poor.
“When we’re talking about [taxing] sin products, please do not scare the people into thinking that what [the government is] trying to do is harmful to the Filipino people,” the senator stressed in an interview at the Senate.
Cayetano chairs the Senate Ways and Means Committee that tackles the proposed measures seeking to increase sin taxes on alcohol and e-cigarette products (Package 2+ of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program or CTRP).
The panel on Thursday (August 29) conducted its second public hearing on Senate Bill No. 383 and House Bill No. 1026 – Increasing the Excise Tax Rates on Alcohol Products and E-Cigarettes.
Industry leaders were given the opportunity to present their position on proposals to raise taxes on alcohol products to augment funds for the government’s universal health care program. A particular argument raised by Distilled Spirits Association of the Phililpines (DSAP) President Olivia Limpe-aw was that hiking taxes on their products would “deprive the poor of their little happiness.”
Cayetano, in response, stressed that the poor deserve a “better kind of happiness” – one which will not cost them their health and their families’ wellbeing.
“I would often hear, ‘Do not deprive the poor of the things that make them happy,’ supposedly alcohol and cigarettes. That is such a sad, sad fact. Because in the long run, that is what causes them so much misery,” she said.
“If it is our goal to become an upper-middle income country, can we not leave our poor with this kind of happiness [harmful vices like smoking and excessive drinking]? Can we offer them instead a better kind of happiness, including educating them as to the right choices they could make?” she asked.
Furthermore, the senator warned industry players against painting a false picture that the proposed sin taxes would lead to job losses.
More than anything, Cayetano said the country’s alcohol problem causes more damage to millions of Filipino families in terms of related diseases, road crashes, domestic abuse, and crimes, and therefore should be addressed through a variety of public health interventions and social reforms, including taxation.
“If you’re going to say that there’s X amount of people to lose jobs, then I am going to dig up all the figures to show how many families are affected by the same sin products – how many deaths, how many battered women, how many neglected children,” she emphasized.
The senator, a staunch health advocate, also had this appeal to members of media: “Ang pakiusap ko sa inyo, don’t use these [one-sided] stories without also including stories about the deaths [caused by alcohol consumption], the children who are violated, and the women who are left homeless or who have to give up food on the table [in favor of spending on alcohol].”
Meanwhile, the senator said she would continue to keep open mind in considering certain concerns raised by industry during the hearing. The Ways and Means Chair plans to create a technical working group to reconcile the positions of the Finance department with other stakeholders before finalizing the committee report next month. #
Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Pia S. Cayetano leads the panel’s second public hearing on sin taxes on alcohol products on Thursday, August 29. In a media briefing, Senator Pia S. Cayetano rejected the argument raised by an industry representative that raising sin taxes would deprive the poor of their ‘little happiness’ [alcohol and cigarettes]: “That is so sad. Can’t we offer them instead a better kind of happiness?” The second public hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means gathered alcohol industry leaders, health advocates, civil society groups, and government agencies to deliberate on proposals to raise taxes on alcoholic beverages.
Senate Ways and Means Chair Pia S. Cayetano on Wednesday (August 21) said she is inclined to go with the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposal to raise excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, with the goal of generating more funds for the Universal Health Care (UHC) Program.
“Technically, I have not adopted anything yet. But I have an open mind to go towards the version of the DOF,” the senator said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay press briefing in Cafe Adriatico, hosted by journalist Marichu Villanueva.
This was in reaction to questions on whether her committee would push for higher sin taxes on alcohol compared to the recently approved House version of the measure.
House Bill No. 1026 was passed on third and final reading on Tuesday (August 20), seeking to impose higher excise taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco, and vape products.
The measure proposes to increase specific taxes on distilled spirits to P35 per liter in 2020, with an ad valorem tax of 22 percent. It also seeks to hike specific taxes on fermented liquors to P32 per liter starting 2020.
The DOF, however, wants to pass a higher version of excise tax rates on alcohol products.
Under their proposal, specific taxes on distilled spirits will be raised to P40 per liter starting 2020, with an ad valorem tax of 25 percent; while specific taxes on fermented liquors, including alcopops, will be raised to P40 per liter by 2020.
The DOF version is targeted to generate P33 billion worth of revenues to fund the UHC program. This is double the amount that the House version is expected to collect, which is P17 billion in one year.
“The primary objective of [increasing excise taxes on sin products] is to support our Universal Health Care program… That’s where my passion is coming from to make these [tax reforms] happen,” Cayetano said.
“If it will be brought to my attention that it’s excessive and not reasonable, then we will have to adjust. But until then, those are the figures that I am looking at,” she added.
Meanwhile, the senator assured that her committee will give all stakeholders the opportunity to explain their position in the Senate hearings before she finalizes the committee report.
“Ang goal ko is to have hearings every week. I just want to be sure that all the stakeholders have a chance to be heard on record,” she stressed.#
“The primary objective of [increasing excise taxes on sin products] is to support our Universal Health Care program. That’s where my passion is coming from to make these [tax reforms] happen.” – Senator Pia Cayetano
Improving the government’s delivery of services to Filipino families is the primary goal of reforming the country’s tax measures, Senator Pia S. Cayetano reiterated on Wednesday (August 21).
“We’re passing taxation measures not because it is being imposed upon us by any international body. We’re in a position where we are cleaning up our [own] house, not because we have to but because it’s the best thing to do,” Cayetano told media members at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay in Cafe Adriatico, hosted by journalist Marichu Villanueva.
The senator currently chairs the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which is tasked to tackle the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) as part of government’s effort to achieve its targets under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The CTRP includes proposals seeking to lower the corporate income tax (CIT) and rationalize tax incentives of businesses (Package 2); impose higher excise taxes on alcohol products and e-cigarettes (Package 2+); reform the property valuation system (Package 3); and rationalize capital income taxation (Package 4).
Cayetano said she plans to conduct a hearing every week to discuss the tax measures. The panel’s discussion on hiking excise taxes on alcohol is set to resume next week, followed by two to three more hearings on e-cigarettes and vape products.
“I want to be sure that all stakeholders have a chance to be heard on record,” Cayetano noted.
The senator said her primary duty as ways and means chair is to ensure that the government will generate enough revenues to fund its social services on health, education, and the environment.
Package 2+ in particular seeks to bridge the current funding gap of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Program.
“Our UHC program is moving forward. But I really want to see it further funded. That’s where my passion is coming from to make these [tax reforms] happen. We want to be able to help our people feel the effects [of UHC],” Cayetano said.
“At the end of the day, taxation is not just to raise funds. It’s also to protect the health of Filipinos,” she added.
Package 2: CITIRA bill
Meanwhile, the senator said she is also keen on proposals to lower the country’s corporate income taxes (CIT) and rationalize incentives given to investors.
“We have one of the highest tax rates in corporate Asia. That paints a not very inviting picture to investors. If we want to be competitive with our ASEAN neighbors, one thing that we can do is to reduce the corporate income tax rate,” Cayetano cited.
She said the government is also losing revenues due to the gaps in our policies on granting incentives to different businesses.
“We have so many agencies offering different kinds of [incentives] packages. Tayo lang pala ang may forever. In other countries, they put a timeline. And despite our incentives, we are still not the go-to place of investors in Southeast Asia,” Cayetano said, stressing the need to rationalize such grants.
Package 3: reforming the Property Valuation System
Another tax measure awaiting passage is Package 3 of the CTRP, which seeks to introduce reforms to develop “a just, equitable, and efficient real property valuation system.”
Cayetano stressed that the country’s outdated property valuation system is “impairing our ability to conduct business well.”
“Imagine, hindi natin nalalagay sa tamang value ang mga [land resources] natin. That’s something that I do hope we can address through a tax reform measure,” she said. #
“Our UHC program is moving forward. But I really want to see it further funded.” – Senate Ways and Means Chair Senator Pia S. Cayetano
Transcript of interview with Senator Pia S. Cayetano on sin taxes on alcoholic drinks
Reporter: There was an issue raised about corruption in PhiHealth. Sen. Gatchalian said before we hike taxes anew, why not reform that first? What can you say about that observation?
PSC: That’s why we have multiple committees in the Senate. One committee, which is the Blue Ribbon Committee, looks into that and the reason I accepted the position as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means is because it is this time in our life span that we have a President that is very anti-corruption.
So if there’s any chance that this corruption issue should be addressed, it would be under this administration. So I am hopeful that as I take on the task to look for funding for our social programs, there are committees within the Senate and then there are agencies in the government that are addressing corruption issues that are very important.
Reporter: You don’t think that’s going to be a roadblock, that some senators might be hesitant?
PSC: It has never worked that way. My task in my committee is to hear the presentation of DOF on taxation and to hear the issues surrounding taxation. That is one issue but it’s not the only issue that I have to confront.
Reporter: The DOF said that the expected revenue from the House version is P16.6 billion. Are you likely to push for something higher for the Senate?
PSC: Well for me, as long as I am convinced about the goals set by DOH, the funding that they want to raise, and the other issues raised by the industries and other concerned parties are addressed, I am more than happy to target the goal of DOF.Because I work with the administration. So that is my goal. As to whether I’ll be able to deliver that, that we have to see.
Reporter: Ma’am you also asked a checklist from PhilHealth and DOH because you said you were concerned about what’s covered by the no-balance billing etc. to justify to the people the tax raise.
PSC: Actually, I am aware. Because my team and I are very much. We always check with DOH and PhiHealth what are the changes in their coverage. So I want it to be available to other legislators, both houses of Congress, even media, even other influencers when it comes to health.
Like I was talking to Dr. Willie Ong [Note: He was a guest in the Senate gallery during Tuesday’s session], he has such a huge following. Dapat alam namin itong lahat. So that when people ask, covered ba yan o hindi, alam na natin. Hindi na issue dapat kasi yung kung what is covered or not. The issue would be, when will something else be covered next, right?
I mean, that should be information at our fingertips. So we should be able to know that vaccination is covered. You go to the healthcare center, that is covered by DOH. That’s preventive medicine.
I know for a fact, appendicitis is covered. Pero certain cancers, I remember na-lobby namin na ma-include ang breast cancer. But I don’t think they are able to cover the entire treatment.
So we need to know that so that we can understand how much work we have to do para ma-complete pa yun. Kasi even in the most developed countries, wala pa naman akong nakita na lahat ng klase ng sakit, andami mong nakita nagfa-fundraising ng patakbo, ng mga bake sale, kasi healthcare is very expensive.
Reporter: As far as your advocacies are concerned, what is your wish list, conditions, accommodations, which should be under the no-balance billing?
PSC: Ang advocacy ko kasi is healthcare in general. Syempre may mga personal pa ako dun. Pero, it’s my job to detach myself from my advocacy and decide what is the best. The best is preventive healthcare.
So a big budget should be going to promoting the use of vaccination. That was my privilege speech yesterday. You know, we can talk about these catastrophic diseases – the reason you call it catastrophic is because minsan lang yan tumama, maliit lang ang percentage ng tinatamaan nito, pero mabigat, yun ang masakit, mabigat. Ito yung mga iba’t ibang klase ng cancer, ganun.
But if you compare that to vaccination, na-eradicate na nga yung polio, tapos ngayon babalik dahil ang mga nanay hindi pinapabakunahan ang mga anak, yun para sa akin very important.
It’s not just an advocacy, it’s preventive healthcare that will prevent the comeback of an ailment that was already eradicated from the Philippines. So that’s what we should focus on. We should put more funding into ensuring that this information penetrates through every mother who has to make that decision.
That’s very important. Inasmuch as my heart breaks, because my father had liver cancer. So pwede kong sagot sayo advocacy ko, liver cancer, diba? Marami ho akong kilala na nagkaroon din ng breast cancer. Pwede ko rin ipaglaban na yan ang advocacy ko.
But the reality is you have to look at the facts and the figures kung ano yung pinaka-prevalent na mga health issues. And that’s available naman sa DOH. But kaming mga legislators and other public figures who dispense our knowledge to the public should have that information para nase-share din nila ng tama.
Reporter: Regarding reduction in alcohol consumption… [Inaudible question / Note: Is there proof that raising taxes on alcoholic drinks really discourages drinking?]
PSC: Ako personally, I want to see the studies that really show us at what point does an increase in price affect the consumption. Of course we want to see that. Studies naman yan, data naman yan. We want to see that.
But on the other hand, I think it’s proven, I mean, you don’t have to be a social welfare expert. You just need to hear the stories to know that alcohol abuse is correlated to a lot of domestic violence, with your partner, with children, unhealthy home environments. That’s why it was made very clear that it was a public health issue.
Alcoholism is not just a social issue. It’s not just a problem of your neighbor. It’s a public health issue. When you have communities where children walk around and kaliwa’t kanan inuman ang vibe, that’s not a healthy environment for children to grow up with, right?
So these are really serious public health issues that we need to address. And is it partly because alcohol is easily available? Could be. I’ll tell you why. One of the arguments that they always tell us is don’t make it expensive so that it’s very easily available and affordable to the poorest of the poor.
And that sadly is an argument always in poor countries. So para na lang sinabi mo porke mahirap sila, sige lahat ng bisyo sa kanila ibigay. Pero yung mga ibang benefit na nakukuha ng may kaya, hindi naman binibigay sa kanila. Hindi naman tama yun, diba?
What you make available to them are the products that are harmful to them? How sad is that?
Reporter: Sa plain packaging proposal [for alcohol products], are you bent on that? Could you give us an overview?
PSC: I just came up with that because I was so disgusted by the fact that there is packaging for alcoholic beverages that clearly to me is attractive to children. [Questioning manufacturers] Why did you do that to children, to teenagers?
The fact that a grown man, like my colleague, Senator Bong Go, would say, “Wala bang ibang kulay nito?” It means cute siya. It means cute yung packaging. So kung ganyan lang gagawin nila, and to think that they cannot even think that it is irresponsible to package it that way, I’m gonna make it white and black packaging.
I will file a bill. I would say nga, this is inspired by the plain packaging that is already practiced I think in Australia? Canada? Plain packaging of cigarettes… My idea to recommend plain packaging for alcoholic beverages is inspired by plain packaging for cigarettes, which I believe is practiced in Canada or Australia.
Reporter: So for the Philippines, alcohol and cigarettes po ang magiging plain packaging?
PSC: Binabato ko lang naman yun kasi naiinis ako na hindi ko nakikita yung responsible standards na dapat nanggagaling mismo sa mga manufacturers. For me, hindi ko naman kailangan sabihin sa inyo na ba’t masyadong pa-cute yang packaging niyo?
Kung matanda umiinom niyan kailangan ba pa-cute yung packaging? Of course not. So that’s why sinasabi ko na if they cannot even moderate or police themselves, then I’m going to propose something like that.
Kasi for me it’s common sense. Sasabihin naman nila, “We’re not targeting the youth, nakalagay dun [sa package], ‘for 18 years and above.’” Ba’t ganun yung packaging? #
Senator Pia Cayetano holds a media briefing following the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which took up the proposal to hike excise taxes on alcoholic beverages.
Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Pia S. Cayetano will lead on Tuesday (August 20) the panel’s second public discussion on the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).
Discussions will focus on Package 2+ of the CTRP, which imposes higher excise taxes on alcoholic beverages. E-cigarettes, including heated tobacco and vapor products, are also covered by the proposal, but these will be taken up separately in a future hearing.
Cayetano said Package 2+ of the CTRP aims to discourage consumption of various ‘sin’ products among Filipinos, especially the youth and poor. At the same time, the proposal ensures the financial sustainability of government’s Universal Health Care (UHC) program.
“In the Ways and Means Committee, it’s my job to look for funding for our health programs, because I am very familiar with the needs of Filipino families,” stressed Cayetano, one of the Senate sponsors of the original Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012 (RA 10351).
“When it comes to sin products, these are taxed high in several countries all over the world. Sadya hong hindi mura ang mga nakakamatay na produkto sa maraming bansa. At binubuwisan natin ito dahil ayaw po natin na mamatay ang mga Pilipino sa mga sakit, aksidente, at peligro na dulot ng mga produktong ito. Ayaw din natin na mura ang alak at sigarilyo para hindi nabibili ng kabataan,” explained Cayetano.
The government’s official position will be presented by officials from the Department of Finance and the Department of Health.
Representatives from various agencies were invited to give their position on the proposal, including the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office; World Health Organization; Motorcycle Federation of the Philippines; and ImagineLaw, Inc.
Civil society and medical organizations were also invited, including Health Justice; Action for Smoking and Health; Action for Economic Reforms; Public Services International; University of the Philippines College of Medicine; Independent Health Advocate Manila Doctors Hospital; Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina; Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance; Philippine Medical Association; Philippine Society of Gastroenterology; Hepatology Society of the Philippines; Philippine College of Physicians; Philippine Academy of Family Physicians; Philippine College of Chest Physicians;
Philippine Pediatric Society; Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology; Philippine College of Addiction Medicine; The Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines; Philippine College of Occupational Medicine; Philippine Psychiatric Association; Philippine Mental Health Association; Philippine Neurological Association; Philippine Society of Medical Oncology; Philippine Heart Association; Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine; Philippine Society of Hypertension; Philippine Society of Nephrology; and Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.
Also asked to join the hearing were women and children groups – Child Protection Unit of the Philippine General Hospital; Safe Kids Worldwide Philippines; Commission on Women; and Child’s Rights Coalition.
Tax reform measures form an integral component of the Duterte administration’s strategy to achieve its growth targets under AmBisyon 2040 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). #
Senators Pia Cayetano and Ronald Dela Rosa at the organizational meeting of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
