Issue No. 69 - March - April 2012 - DOH

alance competing interests, but a carefulscrutiny of the bill shows that it does notserve the public interest.According to the Action forEconomic Reforms, an independent,reform-oriented policy group that conductsanalysis and advocacy on key economicissues, the Singson bill does not reformthe existing weak and backward law. Itintroduces a new classfication system thatwill merely perpetuate the weaknesses inthe law. It does not introduce indexationto inflation. Its tax rates are very low, andcannot even correct the losses from inflationin the previous years. This defeats the twinobjectives of significantly yielding revenuesfor government and stemming the rise ofboth communicable and non-communicablediseases arising from tobacco and alcoholconsumption.Pro-Abaya Bill in Full Forceproducts, he had come to the conclusionthat only manufacturers prospered at theexpense of the farmers.Chavit said that he was alarmedwhen two giant tobacco companies mergedbecause they would monopolize theindustry to the detriment of farmers andsmall companies. He vowed to explain thebenefits of supporting and passing of theAbaya bill to other congressmen and tobaccofarmers in his area.Meanwhile, Umali who leadsthe LPP, the organization of all provincialgovernors in the country, said, “The LPPsupports this landmark legislative measure(HB 5727) which will generate revenues tofinance public-private partnership projects,prevent smoking related expenditures, andsave young and poor countrymen fromlifestyle diseases.”Former Finance SecretaryMargarito Teves also expressed the urgencyon the enactment of the Abaya bill, whichhe said is an “improved” version of theDepartment of Finance’s (DOF's) proposalunder the Arroyo administration. “I wantit to be like the Conditional Cash Transfer.The funding for tobacco farmers was notincluded on our proposed bill during mytime. But with HB 5727, farmers are assuredof income in the event that they would shiftto other crops,” he said.The bill provides a safety net forthe tobacco farmers. The history of tobaccofarming in the Philippines showed that it isdeclining and a lot of farmers have shiftedto other crops. In the 1990s, 69,000 hectaresin the country were used for tobacco, but itis now down to 30,000 hectares. In studiesmade by the Department of Agriculture, thepossible alternatives for tobacco would besweet corn, tomatoes, sweet pepper andbitter gourd.Aside from Teves, 12 formerThe League of Provinces of thePhilippines (LPP) through its NationalPresident, Oriental Mindoro GovernorAlfonso “Boy” Umali and its NationalChairman, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit”Singson recently joined mounting calls forthe passage of the Abaya bill. With Chavitin this corner of the arena going againsthis son’s bill, the sin tax debates becomesmore intriguing.“It’s high time that we raise thetaxes for tobacco products as this will notonly raise funds for the health sector butbenefit the tobacco farmers,” proclaimedChavit whose province is the among theleading producers of tobacco products inthe country. “I am calling our honorablelegislators to approve the Abaya Billand pave the way for the realization ofthe Universal Health Care,” added theGovernor. He said that after years ofopposing increased taxes on tobaccoIN FULL FORCE PUSHING FOR THE ABAYA BILL. From left to right: Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso “Boy”Umali, Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, and BIR Commissioner KimHenares. (Photo by Paking Repelente)March - April 2012 I HEALTHbeat 35