3rd party monitors in cigarette firms pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Congressmen are eyeing the assignment of third-party monitors in cigarette companies to ensure that they are paying the correct amount of taxes.

Representatives Emil Ong of Nothern Samar and Roy Señeres of party-list group Overseas Filipino Workers said they would study the proposal of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance for third-party monitors in the tobacco industry.

“We will file a bill if this is necessary to guarantee or increase revenue collection and fight tax evasion,” Ong said.

He said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) should welcome the idea.

Señeres said the tobacco control group’s proposal is laudable in the wake of reports that certain cigarette manufacturers have been offering lower priced products while resorting to massive tax evasion. 

“I agree with the proposal of the anti-smoking group. Aside from them, representatives of other civic and church organizations should also be involved,” he said.

Other congressmen urged their colleagues to protect the country’s gains from the sin tax reform law in view of suggestions that the status be amended.

Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting said the law that revised excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products is a big success as evidenced by increased collections.

He cited BIR data, which show that in 2013, total collections hit P103.3 billion, well above the P85.86-billion target and almost double the P56.84 billion collected in 2012.

He also said the sin tax reform law has been successful in curbing smoking incidence, especially among the youth.

“Surveys and studies by industry stakeholders have all shown that the law has surpassed all assumptions and expectations. It is obvious that we made the right decision in passing it and we should keep it as it is,” he said.

He said the success of the legislation has prompted the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) to commend Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and the Department Finance for their hard work and technical support in carrying out the law.

He added that aside from SEATCA, the World Health Organization (WHO) has praised the Philippine government for its efforts to reduce smoking through the sin tax reform law.