By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

The Aquino administration has assured that the Malacañang-endorsed sin tax reform bill, when passed into law, would provide funds for Filipino tobacco farmers to help them increase their income.

In an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Thursday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte made it clear that the passage of the sin tax measure would provide safety nets for the farmers to ensure a better income for them.

“Part of the revenue that will be collected will go into a safety net for tobacco farmers precisely because meron mga concern na ‘yung iba daw po sa kanila madi-displace,” she said.

Valte stressed that the sin tax measure would not only generate revenues for the government to strengthen the country’s health care system but also level the playing field that could increase the income of local tobacco farmers.

“However, when it comes to the particular point on taxes, hahayaan na lang po natin ang lehislatura kung ano ang actual na buwis na ipapataw dahil ngayon nga po pending pa rin sa Senado ang panukala sa sin tax,” Valte said.

Last May, President Benigno S. Aquino III certified as urgent House Bill No. 5727 or the Sin Tax Reform Bill that seeks to increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol products.

The bill, authored by former Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, will restructure alcohol and cigarette taxes.