The first package of the tax reform bill, which sets perpetual, incremental tax increases for tobacco products, has been ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives, news site Rappler reported.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill will increase the existing ‘sin’ tax on tobacco at set hikes of PHP 2.50 (EUR 0.04) per pack until 2023, followed by annual hikes of 4 per cent, the news site said.
TRAIN would see the current PHP 30 sin tax raised to PHP 32.50 (EUR 0.54) from 1 January 2018, to PHP 35 from 1 July 2018, to PHP 37.50 between 2020 and 2021, to PHP 40 between 2022 and 2023, followed by annual increases of 4 per cent.
The tax reforms cut income tax for some Filipinos while ramping up taxes on certain items and commodities, such as cars, fuel, sweet drinks and tobacco.
The bill needs President Rodrigo Duerte’s signature before it can be passed into law.