A group of tobacco farmers in Ilocos Sur have sought the help of President Rodrigo Duterte and lawmakers to investigate the still-unfinished farmers convention building in Vigan.
Members of the Federation of Tobacco Growers in Ilocos Sur said the Farmer’s Convention Center in the provincial capitol “is not even close to 10-percent completion” despite the contract being awarded in 2008.
In an open letter to Duterte and members of Congress, the tobacco farmers moaned about the unfinished convention center despite Ilocos Sur having tobacco funds through the province’s share of excise tax.
Under Section 2 of Republic Act 7171 and Section 8 of Republic Act 8240, which created the National Tobacco Administration, 15 percent of the incremental revenue collected from the excise tax on tobacco products shall be exclusively utilized for programs to increase the income and productivity of tobacco farmers and to involve them in post-harvest and secondary processing such as cigarette manufacturing, the farmers noted.
Though the group recognizes the health perils of the products they produce, they said the support fund they should receive, in the form of excise tax, is their “saving grace and safety net.”
However, since the government wants them to shift from other equally or far more economically empowering agricultural produce and/or livelihood activities, the tobacco farmers badly need funds to assist them in such a transition.
“Our livelihood and existence are now threatened by the stricter policies against tobacco products,” they said.
The farmers also complained of the disinterest of local officials, especially the Office of the Provincial Governor, to compel the contractors to finish the project or penalize them for the delay.
“The funds used in Farmers Convention Center should have been allocated to projects that will benefit us directly,” they said.
The group appealed to Duterte, lawmakers, and state auditors to look into the validity of project.
“We are not well-schooled policy makers, but we know that the funding of these projects are grossly anomalous,” the group stressed.
The farmers are optimistic they will be granted prompt and favorable intercession from the Duterte administration, which is known for its stern anti-corruption campaign.
Stiffening policies on tobacco products are aimed to prepare the funding of health services under the proposed Universal Health Care Bill.
