PERSONAL REACTIONS
The Syntax Bill was created to put higher tax rates for cigarettes and alcoholic beverages which will result to the increasing price of these products. As a person who hated seeing people who smoke, drink and smelling the unpleasant aroma of a cigarette and beer, I was happy when this bill was approved. This law will have many advantages. I believed that the most important among them is the higher taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Higher taxes will result to higher prices imposed on these goods. The taxes will be given to the government and can be used to improve facilities in hospitals or other infrastructures in the country. These can also be used in greater spending for social services like free or low cost medical clinics, medical missions, free education for children or drug rehabilitation centers. Upon higher taxes, it will add to the investments in the country which will lead to the country's growth and development. People who smoke, especially for those under-resourced and the youth, will be prevented from continuing their addictions towards these vices and will save their money from the burdens of being sick. I have many relatives and friends who died because of smoking and drinking. I have also read that 15% of the earning from the sales of tobaccos will be the livelihood programs for the farmers. I think this is really helpful because farmers will not depend their means of living from planting tobaccos only for the already have many alternatives to earn money. Lastly, I know that the greatest investment of a country is the people living in it. This law will surely lessen the death rate of people from these vices and the healthier the people living in our country, the more productive and developed country it will be.
Still, there are still some disadvantages of this law. If I will put my feet in the shoe of a smoker or drinker, I will know how hard it is. I will adjust to the times I crave for these things. Then, my body will malfunction because the side effects will start to show. If I'm that addicted yet don't have enough money to supply my addiction, I might think of ways to find money like finding a job. The money I will earn will just go to cigarettes and alcohols. Worst part of it, I might use aggressive ways in acquiring money! Then for those cigarettes and alcoholic beverages sellers or producers, their sales might be affected due to the increasing prices in their products. Their will be lesser buyers and they will just buy minimal amount of these goods. But then, even if the prices are high, people will still find ways just to sustain their cravings. Thus, it rejects the full purpose of the law. lastly, the average price of a cigarette pack here in the Philippines is lower compared to other countries. That is why people can still easily buy from stores.
Even if it will be worst for the users, I know that this law only wants the best for all the people living in it. For the government, I hope that they will really use the profits they will gain to the infrastructures, projects or things that can benefit the country and will produce more to become a developed country. I also hope that the Filipinos will participate actively so that the said bill will be used in its full potential. It is hard for the government to impose such laws if no one will participate. I am happy that the government took initiative in making ways to lessen addictions in our country. I just want the government to also put great attention in minor people who use these vices because there are still a lot of them in our country. I want to put a stop to all of these for these might lead to the destruction in their lives instead of helping the country's economy.
The government is the one who ensures that the laws imposed will only be for the benefit of the people who constitutes the country. That is why they approved this law so because they know that it is good for all of us. It can improve the health status of the people and also help improve the economic status of the country. A healthy society is a healthy country. Although there are people who thinks that this is such a burden to them, someday they will realize that this helped them in some ways also. I hope that the government continues to impose laws that are really helpful to everyone. God bless! :)
