By Bernard Ver
Contributor
Piddig, Ilocos Norte—The Sangguniang Bayan here ratified a
resolution from the Municipal Development Council to appropriate the
municipality’s tobacco excise tax share for the local farmers on February 26,
2018.
Piddig’s tobacco excise tax share is PHP125 million.
The council voted 4-3 to approve the resolution.
Piddig councilors Hershey Mandac, Lendell Chua, Wilbor Bringas and
Marianito Foronda voted for the resolution. They cited the need for the town’s
tobacco excise tax share for agricultural development use.
Piddig councilors Quezon Alejandro, Onofre Bayag and Romulo Helario, Sr.,
on the other hand, voted against the resolution. They reasoned that they need
more to time in assessing and scrutinizing the fund.
One of the two other council members, councilor Rey Nicolas, abstained;
while ex-officio member Piddig Liga ng mga Barangay president Florentino
Soriano was on a convention in Pampanga during the session.
After the approval, Piddig mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen expressed her
appreciation to the members of the Sangguniang Bayan on their munificent effort.
“It is high-time and indeed necessary for the LGU to give what is right to
our town-folks especially the farmers,” said Mrs. Guillen.
Republic Act 7171 calls for the allotment and sharing of funds from the tobacco
excise among beneficiary provinces. Under the said law, a local government unit
must have an average annual production of leaf tobacco of no less than one
million kilos to earn a share.
The law further states that tobacco excise tax shares are only for the development
of the capacity and capability of tobacco farmers through cooperative, livelihood,
agro-industrial and infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads to
ease transportation and lessen costs. (Bernard Ver)
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