Mighty Corp pushes through programs for tobacco farmers

Filipino-owned tobacco company Mighty Corp seeks assistance of National Tobacco Adminstration led by its chief Edgardo Zaragoza.

“The more players dealing directly with the farmers, the better and merrier. This is a big boost to the tobacco industry,” Zaragoza said.

He added that the company’s social outreach programs would increase the assistance provided to farmers and their families and they are hoping that it would encourage other cigarette industry players to do the same.

The Wongchuking-managed company has provided 90 diesel-fed water pumps and 16 power tillers to farmers in the provinces of Abra, Ilocs Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela and Cagayan.

Mighty Corp vows to buy 10 million kilograms of tobacco leaves, one fifth of the industry’s total production. It has also provided 100 scholarships to high school graduate children of tobacco farmers.

Zaragoza said the NTA has been working on the implementing rules for the excise taxes on cigarettes which to ensure that the taxes will directly benefit tobacco farmers.

“In 2003, excise tax collection from tobacco increasaed by almost P35 billion. From P32 billion in 2012, it became P67 billion in 2013,” Zaragoza said.