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The SONA: a ranking of preferences

Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Columns, Fiscal Policy, Mindanao Peace, Policy Issues, Policy Reforms on Investments, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III   Rodrigo Duterte’s 2018 State of the Nation Address (SONA) addressed a lot of issues. And depending on your values, beliefs and advocacy, one would either slam Duterte or begrudgingly recognize parts of his reform agenda. But it is not merely a question of counting what is […]

Universal health care: The dream within reach

Allocating and Tracking Sin Tax Revenues for Universal Health Coverage, Columns, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Joshua Uyheng In September 2017, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 5784, also known as the “Universal Health Coverage Act.” The bill aims to transform our health system to make quality health care accessible to all Filipinos without financial hardship. Three versions in the Senate have also been passed: Senate Bills […]

Drink (tax) responsibly

Columns, Fiscal Policy, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Madeiline Joy Aloria The recently passed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law raised excise taxes imposed on products such as sugar-sweetened beverages, cigarettes, and coal. These products are deemed to have harmful effects on health and/or the environment. This objective of taxation — influencing behavior for the better — has […]

Opportunities from the Tobacco Tax Inclusion in TRAIN

Columns, Fiscal Policy, Sin Tax Reforms, Tax Justice, Yellow Pad

Yellow Pad By Arjay Mercado One unexpected development in the passage of Republic Act (RA) 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law was the last-minute addition of a tobacco excise tax increase. Health advocates were surprised by this sudden inclusion because neither the House version nor the Senate version of the […]

PRESS RELEASE: Senate urged to oppose low tobacco tax rate in bicam bill

Fiscal Policy, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Statements, Tax Justice

PRESS RELEASE 12 December 2017   Senators urged to oppose low tobacco tax rate in bicam bill   “We appeal to our pro-health senators to reject the tobacco tax provision in the tax reform bicameral report because the very low rate of increase falls short of the health goals, specifically its inadequacy to generate revenue […]

Press release: Senate bill on tax reform rejected, tagged pro-rich, anti-health

Fiscal Policy, Press Room, Sin Tax Reforms, Statements, Tax Justice

PRESS RELEASE 29 November 2017   Senate bill on tax reform rejected, tagged pro-rich, anti-health by economic, health leaders   Economic, finance and health leaders expressed disappointment  today over the failure of Senate Bill 1592, or the Senate version of package 1 of tax reforms for catering to self-interests,  failing to correct the structural problems, […]