Two pro-health organizations expressed their support for the proposed Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act of the Duterte administration, saying the bill’s provisions on fuel tax adjustments would help curb the worsening air pollution responsible for lung cancer and other deadly respiratory ailments.
The Philippine College of Chest Physicians and the Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. said the additional revenues to be collected from the proposed higher taxes on petroleum products should be used to fund healthcare programs and other initiatives to improve the physical health and well-being of Filipinos.
The two groups also lauded the Finance Department, which helped craft the Train bill, for pursuing health-friendly tax policy.
“It is our view that the imposition of excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel can help promote the health of the people,” provided that the funds to be collected from this effort would be used to improve
the health of Filipinos and support research on alternative fuels and studies in the Philippine setting to better define the disease burden resulting from combustion of fossil fuels, PCCP said.
