The expression of support was made when NTA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Belinda S. Sanchez made a courtesy visit to the office of Gov. Rodolfo Albano III at the Capitol last May 9, 2023.
“I’m fully supporting the move of the NTA on taking the lead of luring the tobacco-producing local government units (LGUs) to make a unified stand in asking the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of the tobacco fund under R.A 4155 for the enhancement of the local tobacco industry,” Albano said.
Albano also asked the NTA to prepare a resolution for the immediate release of the tobacco fund to be signed by the governors and the members of local chapters of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) that are tobacco-producing areas.
It is recalled that on June 20, 1964, Republic Act 4155 otherwise known as an “Act to Promote and Strengthen the Vriginia Tobacco Industry” provides to established the tobacco fund that will be annually set aside by the National Government from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) which as of May 2022, the computed net tobacco fund under R.A 4155 amount to P92.3 billion.
Albano said the Provincial Government is continuously giving support assistance to the tobacco farmers out of their share from the RA 8240 otherwise known as the Tobacco Excise Tax fund for Burley and Native types of tobacco.
“While we are sustaining our biggest production of Burley and Native tobacco types in the province, we are also looking for the possible replication of the tobacco production practices in Cuba in our province,” Albano said.
Meanwhile, Sanchez expressed her gratitude to Albano for his all out support and suggestion for the immediate release of the tobacco fund under RA 4155, and the giving of assistance to the tobacco farmers in his province. (MDCT/MGE/PIA Isabela)
