By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

During a press conference yesterday morning, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. expressed his support for the amendment pushed by Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano, which places a P20 excise tax on products that use high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
While he did not express his opposition to the tax reform package, which includes a P10 per liter excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, the governor did say that tax should be lower.
“It would have been good if [P10] was reduced,” Marañon said.
He had previously suggested a rate of P2.50 per liter.
Earlier on Wednesday, Congress passed House Bill No. 5636, which imposes excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, reduces personal income taxes, and imposes additional taxes on fuel and automobiles.
The measure next heads to the Senate./WDJ