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| An Ilocano tobacco farmer displays his wares (IT file photo) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—As Ilocos Norte farmers
are currently engaged in full blast rice farming with the favorable rainy
weather, the long awaited release of the tobacco excise tax remains pending in
view of the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund, preventing any
further releases which affects the delivery of services due to tobacco farmers.
According to provincial
treasurer Josephine Calajate, there was no release yet of the tobacco excise
tax, even as farmers expect government assistance in their continuing effort to
increase productivity.
While waiting for the
province’s share of the tobacco excise tax, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee”
R. Marcos said some hybrid rice seeds and fertilizers were initially
distributed to farmers to sustain Ilocos Norte’s target as one of the top rice
producers in the country.
Since the enactment
of Republic Act 7171, or “An Act to Promote the Development of the Farmers
in the Virginia Tobacco-Producing Provinces,” in 1992, Ilocos farmers get
a share in the appropriation of the tobacco excise tax, which the
provincial government used to fund construction of farm-to-market roads and
rehabilitate agricultural facilities, including asphalting of roads and
construction of new bridges from the period of 2004 and 2005.
Also, the previous releases
of the tobacco excise tax in 2006 were used for the construction of the
P1.6-million worth of communal irrigation system, and the acquisition of
tobacco barns and purchase of fertilizers and supplies at P5.5 million.
Under the law, it mandates
that the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Ilocos Norte, and Abra get 15
percent of the taxes on Virginia type A cigarettes collected by the national
government.
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