Mighty Corp’s twin 10-million projects to benefit farmers

Mighty Corporation (Mighty Corp) the only fully Filipino-owned cigarette manufacturing company in the Philippines has committed to facilitate two 10-million projects that will benefit local tobacco farmers in Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos provinces.

Mighty Corp Executive Vice President Oscar P. Barrientos confirmed that they have already asked the help of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) in the purchasing of P10-million kilograms of tobacco leaves and a P10-million corporate social responsibility (CSR) program for tobacco farmers and their families.

NTA Administrator Edgardo Zaragoza said, “We are grateful and we are looking forward to the firm commitments of Mighty Corporation to help the 65,000 strong tobacco farmers in the Philippines with their pronouncements this year to purchase 10-million kilograms of tobacco leaves and the P10-million outreach projects for tobacco farmers.”

The National Federation of Tobacco Growers and Cooperatives (NFTGC) also welcomed the initiatives of Mighty Corp with open arms.  The group pointed out that their members and families are elated with the plan of the company to purchase all the excess tobacco leaves that farmers could not sell to other buyers.

NFTGC President Mario Cabasal said, “Now that we are assured of an alternative market, besides other tobacco companies, our members will again be inspired to devote larger areas to the cultivation of Ilocandia’s most important cash crop.”

Cabasal also commended Mighty Corp regarding the P10-million three-pronged programs to directly help the tobacco farmers.  The said project includes donation of support farm implements like irrigation pumps and tractors, new 200 college scholar grants for the sons of daughters of tobacco farmers and the institutional support for the annual search for outstanding tobacco farmers and cooperatives in the country.