TOBACCO EXCISE TAX: BOON OR BANE? (PART 1)
The Failure of Republic Acts 7171 and 8240 First of three parts The eyes and ears of almost every households in Ilocos Norte are set on the unfolding face-off between two political families in the province – the Marcoses and Fariñases. The battle for public opinion centers on the alleged misuse of P66.45 million from theprovince’s share of the Republic Act 7171 funds by Governor Imee Marcos. However, this is not the first time that allegation of misuse and corruption of the fund derived from the government’s tobacco excise tax collection hogged the national media and Congress. During the impeachment proceedings against former president Joseph Estrada, state witness and then Ilocos Sur governor Luis“Chavit” Singson claimed that he let Estrada pocket P130 million from theprovince’s share of the fund. GREEN GOLD. Tobacco, the main cash crop in Ilocos also provides a hefty income for local government from the 15% share of tobacco-producing provinces provided under Republic Ac...