Consumers and store owners vowed to intensify their opposition to the proposed excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages which they said will directly hit poor Filipinos.
Philippine Association of Sari-Sari Stores and Carinderia Owners president Victoria Aguinaldo asked lawmakers to spare the poor from the impact of rising consumer prices as a result of the proposed excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverage.
“If the ‘sweet tax’ is passed, prices of our products will definitely increase, and our customers may not be able to afford them. Our sales and income will drop, and many of us may be forced to close our stores,” Aguinaldo said.
Aguinaldo, whose group represents 1.3 million sari-sari store and carinderia establishments all over the country, said sweet drinks such as sodas, iced tea and ready-to-drink juice account for 30 percent to 40 percent of their total sales.
The Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente”•an advocacy group defending the interests of Filipino consumers”•has supported the campaign of Pasco in opposing the SSB tax which they said would would hit hard on class D and E consumers.
BK3 convenor Louie Montemar said his group supported Pasco’s actions because what is at stake in the issue is the interest of the poor consumers. He said the latest Senate version of SSB taxes was disappointing and “we fear that the bi-cameral might increase the final version of the SSB tax.”
“We appeal to our legislators to show compassion to the ordinary Filipino, enough with these consumer taxes,” Montemar said.