Skip to main content

Ilocos farmers await release of RA 7171 tax share

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PIDS expert says income tax cuts justified; warns gov’t of revenue loss

Proposals to amend the personal income tax schedule appear to be well-justified. However, these proposals should include measures that will allow government to recover the revenue loss from lower income taxes. Dr. Rosario Manasan, senior research fellow of state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said at a seminar sponsored by the Philippine Senate, that government should look for new revenue measures to compensate for the projected revenue loss that will arise as a result of the implementation of any of the various proposals to restructure the personal income tax. Currently, there are several income tax reform proposals pending in both houses of Congress. All of them, according to Dr. Manasan, have the same objective of addressing the phenomenon of bracket creep, which results from “non-indexation to inflation of personal income tax brackets”. Simply put, bracket creep occurs when employees’ income increases over time as a result of inflation. Th

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.