20180227

RA 7171 fund for LGU Piddig approved – Sangguniang Bayan | by Bernard Ver


Piddig, Ilocos Norte – The Office of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Piddig, Ilocos Norte ratified a resolution from the Municipal Development Council to dole out tobacco excised tax share for the local farmers on Monday (February 26, 2018).

The fund is amounting to 125 billion pesos fund from R.A. 7171 is apportioned for local government unit (LGU) of Piddig this year.

Four (4) members of the legislative body agreed namely: SBM Hershey Mandac, SBM Lendell Chua, SBM Wilbor Bringas and SBM Marianito Foronda. The lawmakers believe that the excised tax’s share must be cast-off for agricultural development.

Meanwhile, three (3) councillors strike down and voted “no” to the said resolution namely: SBM Quezon Alejandro, SBM Onofre Bayag and SBM Romulo Helario, Sr. -- they’ve wanted to obligate more time in assessing the fund and scrutinize it well.

In the other hand, SBM Rey Nicolas waved his right to abstain and had no opinion of the said purpose. Also, ABC Federated President Florentino Soriano was absent during the regular session due to a convention he have had attended in Clark, Pampanga.

Nevertheless, municipal mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen expressed her appreciations to the members of the Sangguniang Bayan on their munificent effort.

 “It is high-time and indeed necessary for the LGU to give what is right to our town-folks especially the farmers,” added Mayor Guillen.

The allotted funds from the excise taxes (RA 717) are divided among beneficiary provinces. The laws says, must have an average annual production of leaf tobacco of no less than one million kilos.

It can only be utilized to develop the capacity and capability of tobacco farmers through: Cooperative projects, Livelihood projects, Agro-industrial projects and Infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads to ease transportation and lessen costs.###


(Bernard Ver, PBS/DWCI)