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Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes is on board with the Department of Finance's (DOF) push to increase the tax levied on junk food and sweetened beverages as a way to address diseases arising from poor diet.

Reyes, a rookie congressman, has already filed a measure to achieve this in House Bill (HB) No. 7485, or the proposed Act increasing the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, amending for the purpose the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

“Great minds really think alike," Reyes said tongue-in-cheek, referring to the DOF's call.

“This bill seeks to advance health equity by generating revenue for the government, which is proposed to finance the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act,” he said.

The measure seeks to increase the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage the consumption of sugary drinks. It would also increase revenue specifically intended to finance the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No.11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act.

The bill proposes an amendment to Section 150-B of the National Internal Revenue Code, to read as follows: “SEC. 150-B. Sweetened Beverages. – (A) (1) A tax of eight pesos (P8.00) per liter of volume capacity shall be levied, assessed and collected on sweetened beverages using purely caloric sweeteners, and purely non-caloric sweeteners, or a mix of caloric and non-caloric sweeteners."

The proposed new tax rate will not apply to sweetened beverages using high fructose corn syrup, and exempts sweetened beverages using purely coconut sap sugar and purely steviol glycosides.

More importantly, the proposal pushes for “a tax of FIFTEEN pesos (P15.00) per liter of volume capacity shall be levied, assessed, and collected on sweetened beverages using purely high fructose corn syrup or in combination with any caloric or non-caloric sweetener".

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that from January to December 2020, diabetes ranked fourth among the leading causes of death in the Philippines. This is believed to be due to the increased consumption of highly processed foods and sugary beverages.

The Anakalusugan solon also expressed confidence that with the additional funding out of this tax measure, “The objectives of the Universal Health Care Act to promote the Filipinos’ right to health, equitable access to quality and affordable health care, and healthy living conditions will be realized.”