With about P36 Billion expected from “sin taxes” revenues on its first year of implementation alone, local health care should also benefit from such huge government funds. This was how lawyer Agustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga sees it, if government really is determined to improve delivery of basic health services. Gonzaga, who is the official candidate of the ruling administration Liberal Party for city mayor of Tagbilaran had put on top of his priorities quality health care for city residents, saying “health is wealth” and this should come first. The passage of Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012, which took effect on New Year’s Day, aims to provide health insurance of Filipinos especially the poor.

PhilHealth expects to receive share of about P23 billion from the increased taxes. The “sin tax” imposes higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol products. Of the total revenues expected for the first year of implementation, P23.4 billion will come from cigarettes, P6.06 billion from distilled spirits, and P4.5 billion from fermented liquors. Proceeds from the tax to be collected will go for the upgrade of state-owned hospitals and health centers so that it may better serve the public. “With these added revenues, local health services should also get a sizable amount from it considering that the actual front liners in taking care of the health of our people are in the towns and barangays of the countryside,” Gonzaga said.

Lawyer Gonzaga was a Tagbilaran City councilor in 1980 to 1986 and he chaired the committees on Health and Sanitation and also Youth and Sports Development. He is a product of the University of the Philippines, passed the bar exams in 1973 and studied further in the United States at the Harvard University Law School. Aside from appropriating a big amount for health service from local fund sources, Gonzaga said he would lobby with congressmen to add amendments to the Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012, insuring shares for health programs of local government units.