The newly-signed law imposing higher taxes on cigarettes and a new tax on e-cigarettes and other alternative devices for smoking will enable the government to properly implement the Universal Health Care program.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the taxes was in line with President Duterte’s commitment to improve the lives of Filipinos by expanding the delivery of healthcare services, especially to low-income families.
Dominguez said while the new law signed by the President on Thursday was primarily a health measure meant to wean smokers from their addiction and discourage young Filipinos from taking up this vice, Republic Act No. 11346 would also bankroll the UHC program, which required an initial budget of P257 billion in its first year of implementation.