Ilocos Sur emerges as country's top revenue earner; Singson appeals for direct flights to Vigan

Ilocos Sur was acknowledged as the country's top revenue-earning province for 2024, according to the 2024 Annual Financial Report (AFR) from the Commission on Audit (COA.

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In the COA report, Ilocos Sur reported a milestone P9.721 billion in total revenues for the year. This achievement represents a huge 140.68-percent growth-a jump of P5.682 billion-from its previous year's figure of P4.039 billion.

In claiming the recognition as the country's top revenue-earning province for 2024, Ilocos Sur unseated Bulacan, which had been the perennial leader in recent years, and has moved down to second place. Cebu, another former top earner, landed third.

The Tobacco Windfall: The Impact of RA 7171

The revenue surge is directly attributed to the region's main crop: Virginia-type tobacco. The COA report detailed that the key factor was the massive release of Ilocos Sur's share in the tobacco excise tax fund, governed by Republic Act No. 7171 (RA 7171).

Ilocos Sur, a major tobacco producer, received a remarkable P6.901 billion from this fund last year. The law mandates that a portion of the excise taxes collected from cigarettes using Virginia-type tobacco must be allocated back to the producing provinces. This substantial payment transformed the province's financial standing, allowing it to easily surpass Bulacan, which posted P8.811 billion.