MORE NEWS, ILOCOS SUR

Tobacco prices rise in Ilocos
By Freddie G. Lazaro

CANDON CITY – Tobacco farmers are rejoicing over the continuous increase in the buying price of the flue-cured Virginia tobacco in Ilocos Sur.

Estrella de Peralta, manager of the National Tobacco Administration branch in this city, bared this saying a trading center in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur is buying one kilo of Class AA full-flavor type, flue-cured Virginia tobacco leaves at P73, which is P12 higher than the P61 floor price approved during the recent tripartite conference.

Class AA neutral type is being bought at P65 per kilo or P4 higher than the P61 floor price.

The full-flavor type of Virginia tobacco was planted by farmers contracted by a big tobacco company, while the neutral type of Virginia tobacco was planted by the ordinary tobacco growers.

De Peralta said there was a report that “cowboy buyers” have been buying at P70 per kilo of assorted classes of flue-cured neutral tobacco leaves in the upland towns.

“The quality of the flue-cured Virginia tobacco leaves in this season is very good, and this has come as a result of good weather in the province,” she said.

“We are still expecting an increase in the buying price of tobacco this season even after the Holy week as long as the quality is good,” she said.

Marcelo Abalos, 59, of Barangay Callitong, Burgos, Ilocos Sur, said he expects to earn higher income this season due to the high prices.

He thanked Ilocos Gov. Deogracias Victor (DV) B. Savellano, Congressman Eric D. Singson, former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, and NTA Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion for the high prices this year.

“The increase really helps us recover from the high costs of inputs in tobacco production. We are very thankful for the initiative of Savellano, the support of our local officials and the NTA,” Abalos said.

Abalos, who has been engaged in tobacco growing for the last 45 years, is one of the tobacco growers of the La Union Leaf Philippines Inc.
He said that his Class AA, full-flavor type tobacco was sold at P71 per kilo.

With the proceeds of his first delivery at the ULPI trading center, Abalos said, he was able to pay his P42,000 production loan.

He said he is expecting six deliveries more on the trading center before the end of the trading season.

Abalos said Virginia tobacco is still considered at the “best cash crop” for farmers in Ilocos Sur after rice harvest.

Meanwhile, supervising agriculturist Diosdado Madule of the NTA’s Vigan City Branch reported a P35 buying price for one kilo of reject, the lowest class of flue-cured tobacco leaves.

He said the increase is P12 over that of the approved floor price of reject, which is P23.

“With this development in the tobacco industry this season, we are expecting that more farmers will engage in tobacco growing in the next season,” De Peralta said.