Mahilig sa potato chips? Bigyang-pansin ang mga kongresista simula sa susunod na buwan.
Magsisimula ng deliberasyon ang House Committee on Ways and Means na pinamumunuan ni Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda sa mungkahing junk food taxes ngayong 2023.
“We will begin briefings on junk food taxes, and whether the DOH (Department of Health), FDA (Food and Drugs Administration), and DOF (Department of Finance) can implement such taxes,” ani Salceda sa isang pahayag.
“I want to know what the challenges to implementation will be before we discuss what rates of taxation should apply,” dagdag ng ekonomistang mambabatas.
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Ang buwis sa junk food ay bahagi umano ng panukala ng DOH para sa mas mataas na buwis sa "mga produkto".
Nauna sa 19th Congress, inihayag ni Salceda na "hindi siya hilig" sa isang buwis sa junk food.
“Defining what junk food is will definitely be a challenge…We will still study taxes on junk food, but we lean towards regulation rather than taxation,” sabi niya.
Paglilinaw sa kanyang paninindigan sa pagbubuwis ng junk food, sinabi ng Bicolano: We are studying taxes on the excessively sugary or salty food as part of a whole package of health measures to reduce the incidence of lifestyle diseases.”
“The whole question to me is what is the best instrument to reduce non-communicable diseases. In some countries like Mexico, taxation worked very well as an instrument. In others, like Singapore, product regulation worked better,” pagpupunto niya pa.
“So, we are studying what works best. I do not intend to rush it with this one, but we will definitely begin formal stakeholder meetings on this in January,” dagdag niya.
Ang Kongreso ay kasalukuyang nasa limang linggong holiday recess. Hindi pa muling magpupulong ang mga solon hanggang Ene. 23, 2023.
Ellson Quismorio
