Firm to hike local tobacco purchase

CITY OF MALOLOS—A tobacco manufacturer based here said it was increasing the volume of tobacco it would buy from local growers in 2014.

Mighty Corp., which carries cigarette brands aimed at the low-end market, has been gradually increasing its purchase of tobacco grown in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions, according to a company executive. Mighty operates a manufacturing plant in the city.

The company decided to raise its demand for tobacco because its domestic market share had improved from five percent last year to 20 percent this year, Oscar Barrientos, executive vice president, said in a statement.

“We have earned our fair share of the market by making quality but affordable cigarettes. That is the secret of our success,” said Barrientos.

He added, “With a bigger share of Mighty Corp. in the market today, we are giving tobacco farmers a fair share of our success by offering competitive prices for their crops.”

“This year alone, we have bought even low-priced tobacco leaves. Had Mighty Corp. not done that, it would have created a great economic dislocation for tobacco farmers.”

According to the National Tobacco Administration’s website, Virginia tobacco is the most dominant variety grown in the country. Its average volume of production in 2009 was 34 million kilograms, which represents 59 percent of a total volume of 58 million kg grown that year in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union. Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon, with a report from Leoncio Balbin Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon