MANILA, Philippines — On second reading, the House of Representatives passed a bill defining tobacco smuggling as economic sabotage on Tuesday.
During the plenary session, the chamber passed House Bill 3917 by voice vote, which seeks to amend Republic Act 10845, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, by declaring tobacco smuggling, whether manufactured or unmanufactured, to be economic sabotage and a non-bailable offense.
Rice, sugar, corn, swine, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and “cruciferous vegetables” are the only agricultural commodities whose importation will be regarded a terrible crime under the original statute.
In her sponsorship speech, PBA party-list Representative Margarita Nograles referenced the most recent Euromonitor research, which predicted that 16.7 percent, or around 9.52 billion sticks, of total cigarette volumes supplied in the Philippines in 2022 will come from illegal sources.
According to Nograles, smuggled tobacco will cost the government PHP26.2 billion in tax income in 2022.
“This poses a severe danger to the government’s collection of tax income in the Philippines. While we continue to increase our efforts to implement measures, unscrupulous traders continue to avoid paying high taxes and remain in the black market “According to Nograles.
She warned that if nothing is done, it will harm the local tobacco industry and approximately 2.2 million Filipinos.
Source: PNA