Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles is pushing for increased tax exemption for imported sporting gear and equipment.

“We have to invest in the health of our people by encouraging them to have a very active lifestyle," said Nograles in a statement Friday, Jan. 12.

By increasing the value of dutiable imported sporting goods, Filipinos will get wider access to various sporting equipment and other health improvement gear and gadgets that would encourage them to exercise and live a healthy life, the lady solon said.

More importantly, the move will also make such products more affordable.

Nograles, who is a sports advocate and a health buff, said that at present, sports and health gearimoorted are very expensive in the Philippines because of high importation cost.

The House assistant majority leader said that through her proposal, Filipino athletes can improve their chances of winning in international sporting competitions because they will have ready access to the best equipment that the world can offer.

Nograles said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) should consider amending its Administrative Order 02-2016, which set the ceiling for non-dutiable imported goods to P10,000 and include a special exemption for sporting and health improvement gears and goods.

She proposed that from P10,000, the tax exemption for imported sporting and health improvement equipment and goods should be raised to P50,000, which is the cost of a mid-level bicycle or a piece of sturdy and decent cardio equipment.

At present, a single importation of any item worth P10,000 and below is tax-exempt but anything more than that is slapped with a 15 percent customs duty and 12 percent value added tax (VAT).

“The P10,000 de minimis value for imported goods will remain with the exception of sporting gears and equipment. If we do this, we can have free gyms in every barangay and we can encourage our population to have an active lifestyle. If we can have a healthy population, we will also have a healthy nation,” Nograles explained.

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In the long run, the neophyte lawmaker said the government will save billions in public health spending on various ailments related to a sedentary lifestyle such as obesity, various types of heart diseases, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol which can lead to strokes, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and even various types of cancer.

Nograles said that based on the Department of Health (DOH) health policy notes, 40 percent of the country’s deaths are caused by lifestyle diseases.