Solon seeks bigger budget for Universal Health Care via junk food tax 

(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes has proposed that the revenue from additional taxes on junk food and sweetened beverages next year be used to increase the funding for the Universal Health Care (UHC) program. 

"It is regrettable that while our budget and spending for health in the past years have risen, the expenditure program for the UHC in the national budget has mostly remained the same," Reyes said in a statement Tuesday, Dec. 26. 

Citing projections in the 2024 Budget of Expenditure and Sources of Financing, the lawmaker said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is poised to get an additional revenue of P68.5 billion from the anticipated excise taxes on sweetened beverages and junk food. 

"Sa pagpasok ng dagdag pondo na ito, inaasahan natin na bubuhusan ng pondo ang ating public health facilities, lalo na ang mga barangay health care centers at rural health units na siyang unang takbuhan ng ating mga kababayan sa kanayunan," he noted. 

(With this additional fund, we expect that funds will be poured into our public health facilities, especially the barangay health care centers and rural health units which are the first resort of our countrymen in the provinces.) 

Reyes has recently filed House Bill (HB) No. 7485, which seeks to increase the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage the consumption of sugary beverages. 

The bill aims to advance health equity by generating revenue to finance the implementation of the UHC Act. 

"Once implemented, we will be able to provide more revenue for the government and also contribute in the fight against diabetes, obesity, and non-communicable diseases related to poor diet," the rookie solon said. 

Under the mandate of the UHC, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is tasked to provide health insurance coverage and ensure accessible and affordable healthcare services to all Filipinos.