Tobacco industry is here to stay - Chavit By Teddy P. Molina The Philippine STAR  Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson declared that the tobacco industry is here to stay debunking claims to the contrary. A staunch advocate of tobacco growing, Singson allayed fears that the chief cash crop of the Ilocos region is facing a bleak future in his speech during the 21st anniversary of the National Tobacco Admnistration (NTA) held recently. Anti-smoking groups have portrayed tobacco as a "sunset" industry citing alleged global concerns over the harmful effects of cigaret-smoking. The former governor who authored R.A. 7171 during his stint in Congress in l987 disclosed how it enriched the coffers of virginia tobacco-producing provinces, towns, and barangays in the northern region. RA 7171 plows back annually 15 percent of cigaret excise tax revenues collected by the national government to the virginia leaf producing provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union and Abra. Under the law, every political level in the beneficary provinces benefits from the revenue share--provincial, district, municipal, and barangay. The governemnt collects an average of P25-billion a year in cigaret excise taxes. Singson rallied NTA officials and employees led by Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion,tobacco farmers led by Carlos Cachola, president of the Philippine Association of Tobacco-Based Cooperatives (PATCO)and executives of tobacco-buying firms and cigaret-making companies to help each other in the preservation of the industry. He pledged to champion the cause of the industry along with the officials of the tobacco-growing provinces. Abra Governor Eustaquio Bersamin who also spoke at the NTA anniversary celebration held at the NTA compound in Quezon City joined Singson in expressing support for the crop. In his first term as governor, the brother of slain Abra Rep. Luis Chito" Bersamin and Appelllate Court Justice Lucas Bersamin, said that tobacco have been sustaining the needs of many of his constituents. Singson did not miss the occasion to narrate how he holds the tobacco industry dear. He said that he was a tobacco grader and then subsequently as a young businessman became a tobacco leaf trader. "Para sa akin, ang tabako ay mahirap alisin (For me, it's hard to abolish tobacco growing)," he asserted. NTA employees thanked him for coming to their succor several years ago when he lent funds to the then cash-strapped agency to defray the payment of their salaries. NTA officials relayed to Singson their financial difficulties and the former governor positively responded, it was learned.

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