Split-level morality
| BLURBAL THRUSTS |
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| Louie Logarta |
Cigarette companies are claiming that they are the most taxed industry in the country today with some P80 billion in excise taxes collected by the government from sales dating back to 2007 up to the present, apart from the obligatory income taxes they are already paying.
But this cannot be avoided, according to congressional economic planners, because the local tobacco industry is viewed as a convenient cash cow by government where they can easily source badly-needed revenues to finance equally badly-need development projects that would redound to the benefit of the populace.
Going by the results of Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted by the World Health Organization last year, the estimated number of cigarette smokers in the Philippines among persons 15 years and above today was placed at around 17.3 million, each one consuming around 10 sticks daily. Further, the monthly average expenditure for manufactured cigarettes is P326.40. Men were estimated to consume 11.3 sticks daily, while women were pegged at about seven sticks, putting their monthly average cigarette expenses at P339.30 and P232.80 respectively..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110220com4.html
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