Philippines: Boost Sin Tax for Ratings Upgrade

The Philippines must pass a law increasing the excise levy on liquor and tobacco, or sin tax, to meet its goal of winning an investment-grade rating in four years, Tax Commissioner Kim Henares said.

“This is one of two measures that the three major rating agencies have identified as important,” Henares said in an interview in Bloomberg’s Manila office yesterday. “We want to correct a defective system that will increase our revenue and use the funds for health care. Once passed, we think the measure will trigger rating upgrades and positive outlook.”

Standard & Poor’s raised the nation’s credit rating twice in the past two years, bringing it to one level below investment grade in July, citing a reduced debt burden and improved public finances. The bill that seeks to boost annual collections by at least 60.6 billion pesos ($1.46 billion) and introduce an inflation-adjustment mechanism will test the resolve of President Benigno Aquino, a smoker himself, to battle some of the country’s biggest companies.

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John Adams

God would want us to outlaw those things that are sinful, but since people are unwilling to follow God's law, I guess a tax on sin is the next best thing. That tax should be placed EXTREMELY high!!!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
  
  Alcohol consumption is only sinful if it is excessive. The same is true of tobacco.
  - bigbadude
    
    Do you know the scribtures enough to make that judgment? Its amazing that the first sign of over drinking is denial. So you believe Jesus wants people to get drunk why?
    Would he want to call on you? Could that be the reason you are not to be druken until his return?
    - Mary
      
      Do you know enough about the scriptures to make your judgment? Jesus DRANK WINE! And I certainly don't see where Andrew is saying that Jesus wants people to get drunk.
      I don't see why people can't mind their own business. God never told you that it is your place to run other people's lives. And sin taxes are just for money-grabbing.
      - bigbadude
        
        How can you be sure it was fermented? it also sayes in the bible you are not to be getting drunk until his return why?mind you own business? well why would not be talking to others about the possibility of somone being wrong? unless you do not take it serriously enough?not its not to run anyones life its not supost to our to run its expected we live for Jesus. the greatest sin is to ofend the Holy Spirit. That will not be forgiven in this life time or the next. There is also Revalation 3 which talks about being luke warm. He also said everyone who comes to me will not enter in. Some will say I have cast out evil spirits in your name he will say to them be gone you workers of evil. There will be wheeping and mashing of teeth. Drunkards will not enter the kingdom of heaven. There are also others too!
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
        
        It is impossible for wine not to ferment when left neither boiled nor refrigerated for six months. To wit, boiled grape juice is NOT VALID for Communion. The Scriptures say, "Wine makes merry the hearts of men." Why, the Scriptures even permit spending holy tithe money on wine and strong drink for the Feast of Tabernacles. If you cannot drink a little wine without giving yourself over to drunkenness, then you do well not to drink any; you also do well to swear off marriage and sex, but it is heresy to impose that upon you against your will.
      - bigbadude
        
        They did not have refrigerators 2000 years ago.This is not a discusion to mock one another. Wine actually fermented with time. Ever think about the parable Jesus spoke about new wine and skins? something about if you put old wine in a new wine skin? then it will break.. Again this is not a discusion for humilation or embarrassment. I just have a tuff time accepting that if a drunkark can not enter into the kindom of heaven why would it be ok to drink a beverage that would cause drunkenness? I believe certain people have a natural desire to over drink. Why would that illness be tested? What could gain from that? God bless you!
  - John Adams
    
    That's your opinion, and I strongly disagree.
bigbadude

How much tax will there be for Homosexuality? it takes twenty years off a person life. Think of the diseases anal cancer, AIDS, 2/3 more likely to commit suside from depression. This is legal?
think of how God feels about these sins, drinking, fornification, devorce, lieing hating,
dishonoring parents!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
  
  How do you propose they do that?
  - bigbadude
    
    Return to biblical standards. If you had a food that 2/3 of the people who ate it became depressed and commited suicide or died 20 years early, or caught AIDS or rectum cancer
    hopefully you would remove that food from the market? So you allow a dangerous activity because some people may complain or be unhappy.. Maybe they need help? If you want to tax sin it sounds like you want to return to biblical standards but afraid to commit.
    In the USA we are learning not following God is a costly decision. It does not mean life will be all rosy but it will give purpose and meaning. It will also give salvation when we die and no one lives forever. My thought is not to hate condem anyone but I have a desire to help the lost. God puts that in our hearts. I pray people will return to Gods love and favior!
    Just remember he loves you and wants a relationship with you!
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
      
      The point is that homosexuality isn't a product. that the government could impose an excise tax on it.
      - bigbadude
        
        However they should stop it! It is a dangerous lifestyle. 2/3 suffer from depression.
        all die 20 years earlier… something that should be talked about..
        there are no cures to AIDS. If thew Government sayes its ok we will help you etc,
        more people will turn to it. I wonder why the Philippines does not prosper more.
        It is said that a country that makes Jesus christ the Lord over all will prosper.
        Why does the philippines not do this?
      - Jeff Dixon
        
        There is a popular notion among Christian missionaries that Christianity is a panacea for all the ills of the world, that it alone held the solution to all human problems, and therefore all should get converted to Christianity.
        
        Here are some examples that will help explode this notion:
        
        Ethiopia, the world's oldest Christian country, adhering to Christianity for more than a thousand years, is also the poorest country in the world. More than a thousand years of Christianity did not mitigate the awful poverty of its people and religion did not help raise their standard of living. Just a decade ago millions perished due to famine. The citizens of Ethiopia continue to remain ill-fed, ill-clothed and illiterate, steeped in poverty and disease. War and poverty still remain the dominant realities in Africa.
        
        In South America – Brazil is said to be the largest Roman Catholic country in the world. In 1996 about 76 percent of the population, or about 122 million people, declared Roman Catholicism as their religion. A third of Brazilians live on $1. One-third of Brazil's population, or some 58 million people, live on less than a dollar a day, a report says. The "Map of Hunger" report, by the local Getulio Vargas Foundation, says poverty has increased greatly in cities over the past decade.
        
        Christianity is the dominant religion of Peru. Roman Catholics are the major tradition, with 88.8% of the population . Currently 54% of Peruvian citizens live below the poverty line.
        
        The Philippines, is perhaps the most staunch Christian ( today 83% of Philippinos are Christians) nation of Asia, remains among the most backward. Conversion to Christianity did not raise the country economically. Religion was imposed on the people by the Conquistadors who imposed the Catholic faith against the will of the Ilocanos in the pretext to grab their land and gold. The cross came in the form of sword.
        
        " In the 16th century, friars (priests) marched with the soldiers (of Spain) and soon accomplished the nominal conversion to Roman Catholicism of all the natives. Native religion was vigorously suppressed." Military conquest by Christians won't happen today, but the Philippines provide an important economic message. Despite of centuries of Christian rule, they are poor. So are the Christian countries of Central and South America, and so too would likely be a Christian India – contrary to the impression missionaries tend to create."
      - bigbadude
        
        I stand behind my earlier comment that homosexuality is dangerous and it should be stoped. We hate the sin not the person!
    - Jeff Dixon
      
      According to the bible, loaning money, wearing blended fabrics, eating shellfish, trimming beards and approaching any woman during the time of her "uncleanness" are abominations in the eyes of your god. Therefore, for a nation to avoid all of these things, they need to outlaw banks, clothing stores, tailors, laundries, fishermen, restaurants, barbers and of course, make sure all women are quarantined once a month for a week.
      I am sure with these proper biblical concepts in place, a nation will prosper much better.
      - bigbadude
        
        Actually taking verses out of the bible neather one of us understand is only switcing the majic cup. Give it up. I can see You know little about Christianity. The truth is in many countries when somome tries to convert them. Many times they believe repeating a sinners pray fixes everything. If you for example did something wrong and were not sorry would anyone have mercy on you? NO! also many time missionaries try to convert and allow Jesus to be tossed in with many other Gods.
        I can not say much for your desipleship you gave up on but it could have been bad teaching etc..However we have the greatest freedom and equality of nearly anyone in history. The norm was monarchs. The USA was a test many doubted we could ever exist this long. So if you consider the freedom and equality and the economy we have held. This is the greatest nation ever so where you have reason to complain. I soundas like you just need Jesus he loves you! he wants a relationship with you!
      - Jeff Dixon
        
        The USA is the greatest country in the history of the world and we became that way because we did not adopt the religious underpinnings of other countries. Myths do not desire a relationship with anybody.
      - bigbadude
        
        We became great because of Jesus Christ!
      - Jeff Dixon
        
        No, we became great because we allowed economic freedom.
- Mary
  
  How about what God feels about YOU PLAYING GOD? Plus I see a lot of hating on your part. How about working on your sins?
  - bigbadude
    
    ? playing God? by asking questions? I say its better to ask questions. Why would he have given the great commission if everyone were on their own? I thing someone who only sayes what we want them to say may not truly be our friend?
    - Mary
      
      You know, I am beginning to think you are yanking our chains here. Your words sound like the perfect parady of a religious bigot. A "sin tax" on gays? That is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. Get real.
  - bigbadude
    
    Homosexuality is an abominination aganist God read the bible!
aceituna

We have too much government interference in our life, also in the form of taxes.