Mighty expansion of CSR program

Philippine cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. says it will this year embark on a three-pronged assistance program to benefit 65,000 tobacco farmers in the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Region.

Executive Vice President Oscar Barrientos said the company had allocated PHP10 million for the distribution of agricultural equipment and tools to be used by groups of organized tobacco growers operating on farms without access to aids such as irrigation facilities and small tractors. The company would provide also about 20,000 long-sleeved farm shirts to ease the plight of tobacco farmers.

In addition, the company will launch a scholarship program, in tandem with the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), for children of tobacco farmers in the regions.

And the third component of the social responsibility program will see Mighty Corp. support the annual search by the NTA for outstanding tobacco farmers.

“Through this program, we want to help farmers reach the global productivity level on tobacco growing while increasing their levels of income,” Barrientos said.

“All of these will be extended as grants, not loans. We want to partner with the NTA and the farmers themselves to make sure the grants will reach the right people.”

The story said that Mighty Corp. was seeking the help of the NTA chief, Edgardo Zaragosa, so as to set in motion its expanded CSR program.