DA backs House measure on cigarette manufacture

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for a measure that will require cigarette manufacturing companies to source at least 75 percent of their raw material requirements from locally grown tobacco leaves.

Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras identified the measure as House Bill 7424 authored by Deputy Speaker Eric Singson.

Paras represented  Agriculture  Secretary Arthur Yap in the 21st anniversary celebration of the National Tobacco Admnistration (NTA) at the NTA compound in Quezon City last week.

Carlos Cachola, president of the Philippine Association of Tobacco-Based Cooperatives (PATCO), welcomed Paras’ move saying that Singson’s bill will go a long way in protecting the interests of tobacco farmers.

The DA undersecretary noted the big volume of tobacco imports undertaken by manufacturers.

Addressing the huge crowd composed of Ilocos leaders led by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson and Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, NTA officials and employees,executives of tobacco trading and cigarette manufacturing firms,and farmers, Paras said that he is “proud of NTA’s achievements.”

He congratulated NTA Admnistrator Carlitos Encarnacion for his and his agency’s “unwavering commitment to help the tobacco farmers.”

Encarnacion thanked Yap and Paras for their support and shared NTA’s accomplishments  to the agency’s rank and file, saying NTA worked as team and remained united through all their endeavours.

A brief video presentation highlighted the tobacco dust and tobacco pulp discoveries of the agency that resulted from NTA researches on the other uses of tobacco. 

The dust product taken from ground tobacco leaves is effective for use in fishponds as molluscicide and enhancer for the growth of ‘lablab, a fish nutrient. Tobacco virgin pulp is an alternative for imported pulp being used by paper manufacturers.     

Chavit Singson and Bersamin assured their continuing support for the tobacco industry.

“The tobacco industry is here to stay,” Singson who has been at the forefront of efforts in sustaining the industry declared in his speech.

He authored RA 7171 during his one-term as congressman which plows back 15 percent of cigarette excise tax revenues annually to the four virginia tobacco-producing provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union and Abra.

Retired Brig. General Antonio Abaya, president of Fortune Tobacco Corp., on the other hand, shared his thoughts on the “changing environment” affecting the industry citing the various prohibitions imposed by law.

He cited the ban on cigaret advertisements, and sponsorships by cigarette companies of various events. His company produces one of the country’s most patronized cigarettes.

“But you can not totally prohibit the use of tobacco,” he said.