Mighty Corporation Launches Projects To Benefit North Luzon Farmers

Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp through its Executive Vice President Oscar Barrientos expressed earlier this year their intent to help tobacco farmers and their families by doubling its tobacco purchase to 10 million kilograms and through a multi-pronged P10 million outreach projects.

A consultative meeting happened last February 8 in San Fernando, La Union between Mighty Corporation and some 200 tobacco farmer leaders in Pangasinan, La Union and the Ilocos provinces which sealed the project.   

“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,” said Mario Cabasal, president of the National Federation of Tobacco Growers and Cooperatives (NFTGC).

Cabasal expressed elation after learning that Mighty Corporation has made commitments to initially buy at least 10 million kilograms of tobacco leaves and to purchase all the excess tobacco leaves that farmers could not sell to other buyers.

Cabasal also lauded Mighty Corp’s P10-million three-pronged programs to directly help the tobacco farmers that will include the 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.

Thousands of farmers in Pangasinan and the Ilocos provinces have expressed relief that their tobacco leaves will have a sure market this year.

“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 added.

Mighty Corporation Aids to Local Farmers Welcomed by NTA

More players directly dealing with the farmers the better it is for the local tobacco farmers and the local tobacco industry in general.

This is what the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Chief Edgardo Zaragoza’s sentiments as he welcomes the entry of local cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation of Mighty Corp in the tobacco manufacturing industry.

Zaragoza further added that Mighty Corporation and through their company’s planned social outreach programs, would definitely increase the assistance provided to local farmers and their beneficiaries.

“We hope this would encourage other cigarette industry players to do the same.”  Zaragoza added.

Mighty Corporation has provided 90 diesel-fed water pumps and 16 power tillers to farmers in the provinces of Abra, Ilocs Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela and Cagyan.

These are the country’s top producers of yellow leaf, the variety used for cigarettes.

Mighty Corp officials also promised that it would buy 10 million kilograms of tobacco leaves, one fifth of the industry’s total production.  

Mighty Corp through its Wong Chu King Foundation also provided 100 college scholarships to the children of tobacco farmers.

Mighty Corporation Doubles Tobacco Orders

Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp, the Philippines' local manufacturer of low-cost cigarettes announced that it will double its local tobacco purchases to 10 Million kilograms.

Mighty Corp executive vice president Oscar Barrientos said in an official letter sent to the National Tobacco Administration office that it would buy tobacco from local farmers 100 percent more than the five million kilograms Mighty Corporation bought in 2013.

“This is to assure our tobacco farmers of our willingness to help in response to the published report of the market leader in the tobacco industry to lessen production this year,” Barrientos, a retired regional trial court judge, said in a statement.

The letter of intent, in effect, debunked critics’ allegations that Mighty Corporation has been importing raw materials from foreign countries at low prices and is no longer buying tobacco from local farmers.

Barrientos said the critics had been resorting to a disinformation campaign using convoluted data in an effort to undermine Mighty Corp's tremendous increase of its market shares.

Mighty Corporation's market shares surged to almost 20 percent of the low-priced cigarette brands last year from in 2012, resulting in the payment P8.2 billion in excise taxes.

Barrientos said the company’s market shares shot up after the government effectively implemented the new Sin Tax Law, that leveled the playing field in the multi-billion peso tobacco industry which was controlled then by Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco.

The new law that took 14 years to pass and certified as urgent by the Philippine President has caused a tremendous migration of smokers from the expensive premium and sub-premium brands to low-priced cigarettes.

It also resulted in some smokers, because of economic reason, to simply quit the vice and thus validated health authorities’ estimate that the sin tax law would result in the decrease of the number of smokers in the country.

Mighty Corporation and Wong Chu King Foundation Pursues Social Responsibility Projects

La Union Bishop Rodolfo Beltran has commended Wong Chu King Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of local cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp for helping the church to spread the faith in the Philippines and for prioritizing apostolic works and education in its programs and projects.

According to Beltran, the foundation has so far funded the education of poor but deserving students in Lagawe, Bontoc including four seminarians and other students of vocational courses like sewing, weaving and hairstyling.

“The parents of these students are low-income farmers producing only for local consumption, so you can imagine the positive impact this kind of support has for them.”  the Bishop said.

Beltran also commended Mighty Corporation and Wong Chu King Foundation for their outreach project that aims to benefit 65,000 organized tobacco farmers of Northern Luzon.

The bishop has witnessed the signing of the project agreement between Mighty Corporation and 200 farmer leaders of the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperatives Inc. (NAFTAC) from Pangasinan, La Union, Abra, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur at a hotel here recently.

Under the agreement, Mighty Corp will donate to the farmers 16 hand tractors worth P2.5 million and 90 irrigation pumps worth P1.1 million.

“I’m quite happy about all these projects. It’s a big lift for our farmers, not only in La Union but also the whole of Northern Luzon,” Beltran said. “This is something very beautiful as the hand tractors and water pumps encourage our farmers to use modern methods of agriculture.” he added.

Auxiliary Bishop of Tuguegarao Ricardo Baccay described Mighty Corp and Wong Chu King Foundation's work as “a step in the right direction."

“For many years, I have personally known Mrs. Nelia Wong Chu King, Wong Chu King Foundation chairman of the board of trustees,” said Archbishop Emeritus Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao City. “She and her family are great devotees of the Our Lady of Piat, and they have erected a chapel in Malolos City, Bulacan, dedicated to the Our Lady of Piat, which was blessed by many bishops led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales in 2012.”

Created in 1990, Mighty Corporation's Wong Chu King Foundation aims to perpetuate the memory of Wong Chu King, the family patriarch, an avowed philanthropist who was concerned for the plight of, and provided timely assistance to, the poor and underprivileged during his lifetime. The foundation also aims to encourage and promote education through scholarship programs and raise funds for charitable, cultural and educational purposes.

Mighty Corporation and Wong Chu King Foundation Backs Seismic Retrofitting of Historic Churches

Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp with the help of their CSR arm Wong Chu King Foundation, pushes forward in assisting various historical churches in their renovation projects.

The Catholic clergy on the other hand fully supports the project of Mighty Corporation and Wong Chu King Foundation for the seismic retrofitting of historic churches in Philippines

The foundation has so far assisted the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Church in Naic, Cavite and the Basilica Minore of the Our Lady of Piat Church in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao City, described Mighty Corp's work as “a step in the right direction.”

"My diocese, like all dioceses, have serious concerns. If Mighty Corp and Wong Chu King Foundation is out to help, retrofitting historic churches is one of the best forms of help it can give.” Baccay said in a statement released by the foundation.

"Churches are also symbols of strength and hope for Filipinos. To see a church survive earthquakes and other calamities can easily uplift the spirits of our people,” said Wong Chu King Foundation General Manager James Vincent Navarette.

“The devastation brought about by the recent Visayas earthquake has firmed up our advocacy to build more churches and strengthen the Filipino faith. However, we also understand that this is not enough. We have to make sure that the design and structure of these buildings, particularly the old and existing ones, are safe and resistant to calamities such as earthquakes.” Navarette added.

Seismic retrofitting is the process of remodeling structures to make them more resistant to damage brought about by earthquakes and other seismic activities.

Mighty Corporation through the Wong Chu King foundation has been renovating churches since 2009.  Last year, they have donated P300,000 for textbooks and other library materials for the Lyceum de Amulung in Cagayan North, Tuguegarao City.

The foundation is headed by Mrs. Nelia Wongchuking, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Mighty Corporation Assures Leaf Growers of 10 Million Twin Projects

The 10 Million Twin-Project commitment of cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp to boost tobacco farmers production and increase their income is already well on its way.

The commitment which was announced last February 8 during a consultative meeting held in San Fernando Launion between Mighty Corporation and some 200 tobacco farmer leaders in Pangasinan, La Union and the Ilocos provinces. 

“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,” said Mario Cabasal, President of the National Federation of Tobacco Growers and Cooperatives (NFTGC).  

Cabasal expressed elation after learning that Mighty Corporation has made commitments to initially buy at least 10 million kilograms of tobacco leaves and to purchase all the excess tobacco leaves that farmers could not sell to other buyers.

Cabasal also lauded Mighty Corporation's P10-million three-pronged programs to aid tobacco farmers which includes the donation of support farm implements like irrigation pumps and tractors, 200 college scholarship grants for the sons of daughters of tobacco farmers and institutional support for the annual search for outstanding tobacco farmers and cooperatives.

“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 added.

Mighty Corporation Pushes Organic Agri-Pesticide

The tobacco that is widely used in the manufacture of cigarettes can also be used as an organic pesticide.

According research, tobacco works effectively in controlling insects like aphids, leaf rollers and stem borers. It is said to be even more effective and safer than chemical-based pesticides which destroy soil productivity and harm the environment.

Filipino cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp promotes the alternative use of tobacco as pesticides to help reduce Filipino farmers’ reliance on chemical-based pesticides.  This will also in return increase the income of local tobacco farmers and protect the environment at the same time.

Mighty Corporation executive vice president and spokesman Oscar Barrientos said that a small but growing number of Filipino farmers were shifting from chemical-based to organic pesticides, or a combination of the two. “This trend should be encouraged,” he added.

Local farmers make up 11.55 million of the Philippines’ 38.6-million-member labor force and contribute 20% of its gross domestic product.  Insects and other pests have adversely affected farmers’ production of main agricultural crops, including rice, corn, coconuts, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, coffee, mangoes and abaca.  

Also affected are secondary crops like peanuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, cabbages, eggplants, calamansi, rubber, and cotton. 

The nicotine from tobacco has been used on crops as a natural insecticide that does not have the health and environmental risks of chemical-based pesticides.

NAFTAC Signs Joint Project Agreement with Mighty Corporation

The National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) and Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp recently signed an agreement for a joint agricultural project to help uplift the lives of tobacco farmers in Northern Luzon with the theme "Sama-Sama Tayong Pilipino sa PAgyabong ng Industriya ng Tabako." 

Mighty Corp executives, retired general Edilberto P. Adan and retired judge Oscar P. Barrientos together and NAFTAC head Mario Cabasal signed the agreement in La Union.

Prior to the signing a consultative meeting was held between 200 tobacco farmer leaders in Pangasinan, La Union, Abra and the Ilocos provinces and Mighty Corporation.  It was highlighted by the turn over of 16 units of hand tractors worth P2.5 million and 90 units of water pumps worth P1.1 million to chapter delegations from seven provinces in Northern Luzon.  All donations was coursed through by Mighty Corporation to its CSR arm Wong Chu King Foundation.

“We are happy that Mighty Corporation has stood firm on its commitments 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,” said Cabasal after the agreement was signed by the new partners. “This is definitely a big help to us, tobacco farmers,” added Cabasal.

Cabasal also lauded Mighty Corp's latest announcement of a P10-million three-pronged programs to directly help tobacco farmers produce better quality tobacco that included the donation of support farm implements like irrigation pumps and tractors, sponsoring new 100 college scholar grants for the sons and daughters of tobacco farmers and the institutional support for the annual search for outstanding tobacco farmers and cooperatives.

Mighty Corporation Distributes Hand Tractors and Water Pumps to North Luzon Farmers

Local cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp signed a 10 million pesos three-pronged programs to help farmers produce better quality tobacco.

Present during the official signing of the memorandum of agreement were MIghty Corp President Edilberto Adan, Mighty Corp Executive Vice President Oscar Barrientos and the President of the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperative, Inc. (NAFTAC) Mario Cabasal.

The program includes the distribution of support farm implements such as irrigation pumps and tractors, the sponsoring of 100 college scholar grants for the sons and daughters of tobacco farmers and the institutional support for the annual search for outstanding tobacco farmers and cooperatives.

“We are happy that Mighty Corporation has stood firm on its commitments 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,” said Cabasal after the signing of the agreement.

The highlight of the event was the formal turn-over ceremony of 16 units of hand tractors worth P2.5 million and 90 units of water pumps worth P1.1 million to chapter delegations from the seven tobacco-producing provinces in Northern Luzon.

Mighty Corporation Donates Tobacco Dusts to Fish Pond Operators

Local cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp said it will donate tobacco dust, an organic fish pond conditioner alternative, to help millions of Filipino fish pond owners and increase the income of tobacco farmers in the Philippines.

Mighty Corporation executive Vice President Oscar Barrientos said, “We are going to help the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) promote the use of tobacco dust by donating to our thousands of fish pond owners and operators all over the country.  In doing so, we are helping both tobacco farmers and fish pond owners and operators increase their yield.”

NTA was promoting tobacco dust to control the population of snails and other fish pond predators, as this was “an effective and economic option to replace highly toxic and cyanide-based chemicals used in the preparation or sterilization of fishponds.”

Tobacco dust, according to studies made by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, promotes the growth of lablab, an algae and natural fish food, and serves as pond floor conditioner. Pond owners and operators use it to prepare or sterilize fish ponds before stocking fingerlings there.  Fish stocking is the practice of raising fish in a hatchery and releasing them into a river, lake, or the ocean to supplement existing population, or to create a population where none exists.

Barrientos said that the cigarette company aims to increase the income of the tobacco-growing industry in the country by buying 10 million tobacco leaves from local farmers all over the country. It allotted P700,000 for the purchase of green leaves.

Mighty Corporation aims to help local tobacco farmers earn more with a projected increase in the production of tobacco leaves and tobacco dust while helping pond owners and operators and the environment as well.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares on Mighty Corp Case

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares earlier this month issued her findings favoring local cigarette manufacturing firm, Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp over Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC).

The BIR Commissioner ruled out the alleged cigarette smuggling activities filed against Mighty Corp by its rival company, saying that there exist no such wrongdoing made by the latter in the trade of tobacco in the Philippines.

Mighty Corporation, a Bulacan-based cigarette manufacturing company, became a subject of scrutiny when allegations of technical smuggling and tax evasion were filed against them by its competitor.

Commissioner Henares however said that Mighty Corp is just being aggressive in seizing market shares from big industry players since the enactment of the new excise tax regime.

Based on recent reports, Mighty Corp was able to gain 20% of the industry's market share from a mere 3% last year before the implementation of the new SIN Tax law.  PMFTC on the otherhand went down 75% from a strong 92% before January 2013.

Mighty Corp, a Wongchuking family-owned and proud Filipino company has denied all the allegations of smuggling or any form of illegal business practices.  Mighty Corp executives explained that the company managed to lower its operational cost as it does not pay royalty to foreign headquarters and has no foreign consultants.

They also stressed that imputing fraud against them was “not only unfair but highly libelous and damaging.” 

Mighty Corp also added that the BIR and Customs authorities have been closely monitoring their operations, reporting and compliance.  The company also assured the public that they are open to government’s plan to examine its books and challenges its competitors to do so as well to ensure proper compliance of all tobacco industry players with the new Sin Tax Law.

According to sources, PMFTC has already introduced its low-priced Marlboro cigarettes in Mindanao, selling it at P1 per stick.

Kabataan Representative Terry Ridon said, PMFTC cannot come to congress with unclean hands if it insists that Mighty Corp is resorting to illegal acts while they are also doing the same thing lately.

While we expect PMFTC to deny any illegality in its undertaking and claim that it can sell low-priced cigarettes without violating any law, that in a way is just saying that their allegations of illegal business practices against Mighty Corp is also not true. 

The House Committee on Ways and Means is said to start its hearing on the tobacco issue sometime in the middle of next month.