Senate to pass sin tax bill on Monday — Drilon

The Senate is expected to approve the bill seeking to increase the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products — one of the Aquino administration’s priority legislation — on Monday.   In a statement, Sen. Franklin Drilon said he is “confident” that his “colleagues have seen and realized the importance of this reform measure to a great majority both as a health measure and as a finance bill.”   “I am confident that they will vote for its passage when session resumes on Monday,” added Drilon, who replaced Sen. Ralph Recto as head of the ways and means committee. Recto resigned from the committee in October amid accusations that his committee report favored the tobacco industry. His bailiwick, Batangas province, is home to a factory by one of the largest tobacco corporations.  "Important piece of legislation"   Senate Bill 3299, commonly known as the sin tax reform bill, intends to raise government revenues from tobacco and alcohol products from as much as P40 billion to P45 billion.   Drilon, a member of President Benigno Aquino III’s Liberal Party, said Aquino “certified as urgent the sin tax reform bill for he believes the passage of this very important piece of legislation will buttress government health agenda and address the high prevalence of smoking in the country.” he said.   He said the certification, which Aquino signed before leaving for Cambodia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, authorizes the Senate to vote on a measure on second and third reading without having to observe the three-day interval rule.   Rule XXV Section 71 of the Senate Rules states that "[b]ills shall be submitted to final vote by yeas and nays after printed copies thereof in final form have been distributed to the Members at least three days prior to their passage, except when the President of the Philippines certifies to the necessity of their immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency, in which case the voting on third reading may take place immediately after second reading." Final stretch   “We are in the final stretch,” Drilon said in the statement. “We are only one step farther before the passage of this bill; but, certainly, without the support of the President, we would not have gone this far.”   Drilon said he will move to vote on the bill after they close the period of individual amendments on Monday.    “After all interpellations on the committee amendments were closed and the committee amendments having been accepted, then we now go to the period of individual amendments wherein the Senators can propose amendments. If these amendments are accepted by the Chamber, they will be considered as part of the bill," he said. Opposition   Several senators have expressed their opposition to the measure, among them Recto and Bongbong Marcos.   Recto doubts the government will be able to reach the P40-billion revenue target. He also warned the scheme may result in job losses.   Marcos, meanwhile, is concerned about the 18,000 tobacco farmers who he said may lose their livelihood because of the measure. He also raised the possibility of increased smuggling incidents when the bill becomes a law.   Groups, however, have hailed Drilon's sin tax bill as a "victory" for health advocates. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News