Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 2) — Senator Raffy Tulfo said the Department of Finance’s (DOF) plan to impose higher taxes on junk food and sweetened beverages will only hurt the “poorest of the poor” who rely on these food items to survive.
In a statement on Sunday, Tulfo said that the poor view junk food as a necessity, noting that they occasionally eat chips to satiate their hunger.
Bakit pinagdidiskitahan ng BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) ang mga chichirya at nais nilang patawan ng buwis ang mga ito? This is very anti-poor!” Tulfo said.[Translation: Why is the BIR turning on junk food, wanting to impose taxes on them?]Among the DOF’s proposed revenue measures next year is to impose a ₱10 per 100 grams or ₱10 per 100 milliliters tax on pre-packaged foods that lack nutritional value. These include candies, snacks, desserts, and frozen confectioneries.The department also intends to increase the sweetened beverage tax rate to ₱12 per liter, regardless of the type of sweetener used.The anticipated revenue from the planned early implementation of the tax measure will increase the proposed 2024 budget to ₱5.768 trillion from ₱5.268 trillion in 2023, according to the Department of Budget and Management.
READ: Planned tax hike on junk food, sweet drinks bumped up 2024 budget — DBM chief
Tulfo said the government should instead increase taxes on food supplements and cosmetics, noting that these are multibillion-peso industries and taxing them will not affect the poor.
The DOF also said that increasing taxes on junk food and sweetened drinks is also an effort to combat diabetes, obesity, and non-communicable diseases associated with poor diet, and that the agency is working with the Department of Health (DOH) on the proposal.Regarding this matter, Tulfo maintained that the DOH should urge manufacturers to reduce the sodium content of food products instead.
