VIGAN, Ilocos Sur — The billions of pesos worth of taxes derived by the region from the Tobacco Excise Tax, otherwise known as Republic Act (RA) 7171, which has now propelled the economy of the Virginia-tobacco producing provinces in Region 1 for the past several years was a product of the single ever bill principally sponsored by then Rep. Luis “Chavit” Singson, now governor-elect of Ilocos Sur.

“I am not ashamed to tell the public that I had only one bill filed that was passed into law when I was congressman representing Ilocos Sur’s 1st District because this is now earning billions of pesos for the province and other provinces planting Virginia tobacco,” Singson proudly told newsmen based here.

Before the May elections, the national government released a total of more than P6 billion, P3 billion of which went to Ilocos Sur, as the province’s share from the Tobacco Excise Tax – the biggest Virginia-tobacco producing province.

The enactment into law of RA 7171 had sparked the economic progress of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan that are now all classified as 1st class provinces.

But Singson explained to the farmers that although he was the one who fought for the passage of the RA 7171, he pointed out that he shared the tobacco excise tax to the municipalities that has been allocated 40 percent, another 30 percent goes to the two districts, and the remaining 30 percent will be the only amount being implemented by the provincial government.

“I am not that greedy so I gave the 30 percent to the two congressmen, 40 goes to the mayors and only 30 percent goes to the capitol to be implemented by the governor for his own priority projects,” pointed out Singson during his visit here.

A total of about P22 billion is earned yearly by the government from the tobacco industry alone.

Since then, Ilocos Sur has become a 1st class province brought about by the share from the excise tax that was purely used in economic development, construction of farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects, where Ilocanos attributed this to the efforts of Singson, now the respected political kingpin in the region.

The enactment of the RA 7171 has further boosted the popularity among the local folks of the already popular former governor.