Sin tax collection up 1.09% at P8.89B in April

The excise tax collected by the government reached P8.89 billion in April, up 1.09 percent from P8.79 billion a year earlier, the Bureau of Internal Revenue reported on Thursday.

Tobacco products accounted for P4.88 billion or 55 percent of the total collections for the month, reflecting a decline of 11.91 percent.

"The decrease in excise tax collection in cigarettes for April 2016 compared to April 2015 is still largely due to the implementation of the Graphic Health Warning Law," the BIR noted.

The collection from fermented liquors totaled P2.84 billion, up 24.56 percent; and from distilled spirits P1.17 billion, up 20.62 percent.

In the first four months of the year, the sin tax collection totaled P35.5 billion, up 16.5 percent from P30.47 billion a year earlier, the bureau noted.

Tobacco products contributed the lion's share of P19.77 billion, followed by fermented liquor at P11.52 billion, and distilled spirits at P4.21 billion.

Collections from tobacco products increased by P2.13 billion or 12.07 percent in January to April. Fermented liquors recorded an increase of P2.6 billion or 29.15 percent, and distilled spirits P31 million or 7.95 percent. – Ted Cordero /VDS, GMA News