Ilocos Sur declares state of calamity

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — With P1 billion worth of tobacco plants destroyed by heavy rains that hit Ilocos last month, Ilocos Sur officials passed an emergency resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity.

Under the law, local government units under a state of calamity can avail of five percent of their local fund to be used to rehabilitate ffected areas.

Local officials here also appealed to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and to President Arroyo to immediately extend help to tobacco farmers so that they can recover their losses.

A resolution sponsored by board member Zuriel Zaragoza and approved by Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, seeks the immediate assistance for the beleaguered tobacco farmers.

Based on the survey conducted by the National Tobacco Administration, the estimated value of destroyed tobacco plant, which is around 35 percent of the total plant in the region, was placed at more than P500 million.

The national government was earning more or less a total of P22 billion from the tobacco industry annually.

In nearby Abra province, Rep. Chito Bersamin has also sought a P20 million funding from the DA in the Region to help his constituents plant tobacco.