The Department of Health asked the House of Representative to file a bill to tax junk foods.
The Department of Health (DOH) is requesting the House of Representatives to file a bill to tax junk food and foods high in salt, fat and calories. The consumers of junk food essentially belong to low middle and lowest income segments. Junk foods are usually cheap-- compared to nutritious food which are out of their reach because of food inflation and their budgets just can't buy them.
At first, the tax on sweetened beverages and juices, which are also mainstays of the hoi polloi were taxed. This led to lower sales because they have become unaffordable to the low income people. Now they want to tax the cheapP1 to P5 per sachet) chips, chocolates and street food sold in fixed stores. Why not tax the rich.
Health Undersecretary Kenneth G. Ronquillo said the tax should compel Filipinos to consume nutritious food, the Business World reported.
The DOH also wants lawmakers to raise the excise tax on sugary beverages and tobacco goods.
The Department of Finance in May said the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, tax amnesty programs, and “sin” tax laws raised ₱228.6 billion last year-- again all at the expense of the poor.
Tags: #DOH, #tax, #junkfood