ILOCANDIA RUMBLINGS

LGU Excise Tax Share for Genuine Agrarian Reform Second of three parts A glance on the Cost of Production (COP) form of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) tells a lot about the state of the tobacco industry. From start to finish, the field activities, equipment and the number of mandays employed shows a backward if not primitive production process compared to other tobacco producing countries. The feudal character of the Philippine countryside is also apparent. Landlordism and the scarcity of land in the region generate prohibitive land rent. Foreign control over our agricultural production is also evident, with majority of the chemical inputs for the crop are imported. Besides these things, the exploitative and oppressive marketing scheme also becomes undeniable when one thoroughly studies the form. Presented below the computed COP are the percentages of the different leaf classes. Based on the NTA projection, about 67% of the leaves fall under Class AA to C that commands ...

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...

Zaldy Alfiler (standing in red shirt), Secretary General of STOP Exploitation explains the bases of the groups' demand for P128/kilo of dried Virginia tobacco leaves during the March 27 dialogue with the National Tobacco Administration. Alfiler said that besides the P26.00 increase for daily basic needs, the cost of production for every hectare in the region increased by an average of P2,600 in the past two years. Democracy is not something that popped out of thin air. The concept and practice of democracy evolved and continues to progress through social processes. While the development of the concept comes naturally with the advancement of human society, the contents and benefits of democracy are not readily available. The people can only claim the space for participation, criticism, and dissent it provides through organized assertion and ardent struggle. The March 27 dialogue between the tobacco farmers led by Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (Stop Exploitatio...