Farmers get water pumps from excise tax
MANGALDAN–More than 100 portable water pumps were turned over to local government units in the 4th District towns of Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Manaoag last September 16 by Rep. Gina de Venecia and her husband, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
The funding for the pumps, each costing P17,000, was drawn from the share of the district from the excise tax on burley and native tobacco collected by the government from cigarette sales.
The excise tax on burley and native tobacco was worked out jointly in the last Congress by representatives from burley and native tobacco-producing areas.
Previously, only the Virginia-tobacco producing areas of La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Abra were the ones receiving shares from the excise tax.
Pangasinan is the country’s top producer of burley and native tobacco, two major components of cigarettes, with San Fabian and San Jacinto as the two leading growers.
The water pumps, received by town mayors, will be distributed to the barangay farmer associations in their respective areas in support of farmers planting tobacco and other crops.
Meanwhile, the De Venecias on September 17 motored to Mangaldan to preside over the groundbreaking rites for the re-construction of the town’s fish market, which was gutted by fire early this year.
De Venecia is contributing P20 million to the project and another P15 million from her Priority Development Assistance Fund for the reconstruction of the public market in Manaoag, which was also gutted by fire early this year.
The congresswoman also announced that she is set to launch her own tree planting and beautification program in the district, first targeting roadsides of the main highways and the beaches.
The program will be joined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and local government units.—LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
