DOCTORS belonging to the Philippine Heart Association have thrown their fully support to the proposed “asin” tax.
In an interview, incoming PHA president Jorge Sison of the Manila Medical Center said too much salt is bad to one’s health.
He said they welcome the proposed bill to impose tax on salted products in excess of the allowed daily salt intake as part of a health measure.
Meanwhile, Ronald Cuyco, a newly elected PHA board of director and a specialist in echocardiography discipline at the Philippine Heart Center, said many of the processed food has salt content not good to one’s heart, kidney and blood pressure.
“The government through the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has been spending too much money for the health-care and treatment of its members. “Asin” tax could be a preventive measure.”
“The bill is right. But we have to calibrate our action so as not to affect the poor sector,” Cuyco said.
Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete filed House Bill No. 3719 seeking to impose a P1 tax for “every milligram of sodium in excess of one-third to the allowable daily intake of sodium chloride” as prescribed by the Department of Health. He said salt was a silent killer that could trigger higher blood pressure.
Meanwhile, PHA welcomed Sison to head the organization. He will replace outgoing PHA president Raul Lapitan on July 1.
Sison vowed to focus on the agenda to transform the PHA into a league of advocates, a hub for cardiovascular research and a socially relevant PHA.
“The cardiologist’s role is not only to treat cardiovascular diseases but to prevent them,” he said.