VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved the immediate release of the P3-B excise tax share of the province to be used for the development of Ilocos Sur, a top government official revealed yesterday.

Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson said that the P3-B intended share from the tobacco excise tax was part of the total amount of P5.8-B tobacco excise tax share for the Virginia-tobacco producing provinces in Region 1. Ilocos Sur is the biggest Virginia-tobacco producing province.

In a talk with Manila Bulletin, Singson said that President Arroyo had already signed and approved the Executive order 846 regarding the “Monetization of un-appropriated and unreleased share of Local Government Units producing Virginia tobacco for the 15% Excise tax share collection from locally manufactured Virginia-type cigarettes for the calendar year 2002 up to 2009,” based on R.A. 7171.

R.A. 7171 was principally sponsored by then Congressman Singson, providing 15% excise tax share of the Virginia-tobacco producing provinces. A total of more or less P22-B is earning yearly by the government from the tobacco industry alone.

The share from the excise tax that was purely used for the construction of farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects.

According to Singson, the P3-B fund had also been approved by the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management for its immediate release which expects to be released anytime this month.

Singson said that 70% percent of the total amount will go directly to the municipalities and districts where the mayors and congressmen can personally implement the priority projects that they want to be given priority. He said that only 30% will go to the province for its own priority projects.