Ilocos Sur board declares state of calamity

VIGAN CITY — The Ilocos Sur provincial board has declared a state of calamity after heavy rains devastated 2,000 hectares of tobacco farmlands in the province last month.

"Sobrang malaki ang napinsala (The damage was too much)," said Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson after he was briefed on the extent of the damage.

Those destroyed were ready-to-harvest tobacco plants. Farmers in the second district towns of Candon, Sta. Maria and Narvacan as well as in upland municipalities suffered the most.

The rains also destroyed tobacco crops in other Ilocos provinces, Abra as well as in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) reported that tobacco plants worth P540 million were destroyed.

Board member Zuriel Zaragoza endorsed the resolution, saying the provincial government should find ways to alleviate the plight of the affected farmers.

Singson, who was busy meeting with the farmers at press time yesterday, said he would ask President Arroyo to help the province reactivate the Ilocos Sur Multiline food processing plant.

The plant’s reopening hinges, though, on the release of P300 million in tobacco excise taxes.

Singson earlier turned over the operation and management of Multiline to the NTA.