Tobacco farming offers many benefits - DA chief

QUEZON CITY– Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor has cited tobacco farmers as responsible for various economic benefits being enjoyed by Filipinos in view of billions in taxes that the tobacco industry generates.

In his address during the 15th anniversary program of the National Tobacco Administraion (NTA) headed by Administration Carlitos Encarnacion, Montemayor rebuked anti-tobacco advocates as being insensitive.

"This is what they forget – that on the backs of tobacco farmers we have a whole range of economic benefits that accrue to the entire Filipino people," he said.

He stressed that leaf farmers are shining models of hard work, thrift, efficiency and productivity (and) "serve as example not only to all agriculture producers but to the entire Filipino people."

The industry has been generating approximately P21 billion yearly in terms of excise taxes paid by cigarette manufacturers.

The government’s various socio-economics project like roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and others are being benefited by this revenue, it was learned,

"So, kung papatayin ninyo ang industriya ng tabako, eto ang unang papatayin (ninyo) lalo na kung wala tayong ibibigay na alternatibo (So, if you kill the tobacco industry, these are what you are eliminating especially if there are no alternatives to the industry)," he stressed while taking a dig at anti-tobacco groups.

In the same occasion which saw the induction of officers of the National Association of Tabacco-Based Cooperatives, Agriculture Undersecretary Ernesto Ordonez cited the industry as a big contributor to the consistent national growth rate in agriculture for many years.

"From 1.5 percent in 1980-99 to two percent in 1990 to 1999, the growth rates for the last three years became + six percent + four percent, and + four percent," Ordoñez jubilantly announced.

"This has never happened, never, before," he said noting the consistent positive growth rates in 2000-2002.

He gave the NTA high marks saying it "has contributed very greatly to the consistent increase, not only in tobacco production but for the other components of its Integrated Farming and Other Income Generating Activities Project (IFOIGAP). Tobacco farmers are into rice-farming also.

He also lauded the research and development strides of the NTA which is now developing alternative products from tobacco like papers, insecticides, paint, medicine, and others.

Montemayor and Encarnacion attributed agriculture’s gains to the "dynamic" and "pro-farmer" leadership of President Arroyo.