NTA Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr.
The Son Also Rises: Sustaining the legacy of good leadership Robert Victor G. Seares Jr, 40, the youngest NTA Administrator ever appointed to the position, is no stranger to the tobacco industry. His interaction with the tobacco growers and exposure to the economics of tobacco production started when he was the mayor of Dolores, Abra. In his three terms as local executive (2010-2019), JR, as he is fondly called by his peers and family, was at the forefront helping the local tobacco-rice farmers, through their associations and cooperatives, by enhancing their productivity and advancing their welfare with various infrastructure projects and assistance programs that he initiated, using funds from the town's share from the tobacco excise tax collection of the national government. |
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In fact, his father, the late NTA Administrator Robert Lizardo Seares, M.D., early on his term even cited the achievements of his son as a model of the proper use of the tobacco excise tax for the farmers’ benefits, in close partnership and coordination with the agency.
The share from the tobacco excise tax of Dolores is small compared to other tobacco-producing LGUs but because it was prudently spent, it had impacted a great deal on the communities leading to various infrastructure and development projects, financial assistance to local growers, and improved capacity of the local government to deliver basic services to their constituents.
As a former mayor, like his son, the elder Seares believed in the importance of LGU cooperation and partnership in managing the growth of the industry.
A Natural Successor
The elder Seares, whom the son succeeded after his death on March 19, 2020, made the Farmers First Policy of utmost importance under his leadership.
JR Seares made it clear as soon as he assumed office that he will continue the same kind of leadership and farmer-centered policy established by his father.
He was elected to the NTA Governing Board as Administrator and Vice Chair and took his oath of office before Agriculture Secretary William Dar on June 29. His appointment as Administrator and Chief Executive Officer was signed by President Roa Duterte on June 10, 2020.
“This is not a new administration, but a continuation of the leadership of my father in implementing programs that protect the welfare of our tobacco farmers,” he declared.
In particular is the formulation of the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program (STEP), a five-year industry development plan to enhance the growth of the Philippine tobacco sector, which was initiated during his father’s term. The industry roadmap is aligned with Secretary Dar’s “new thinking” in his approach to managing Philippine agriculture, focused on accelerating the modernization and industrialization towards increasing income and productivity.
To some, JR Seares is seen as a natural successor to his father, the right person to build on his father’s record and take NTA to the next level. His background at Dolores has primed him to take the lead of the agency.
Having the same experience and background as his father, the same expertise and leadership and management as former local executives, and personal commitment to help the smallholders improve their lives through their farming ventures are a unique combination that will serve the industry well.
He admits that although much has been done during the brief stint of his father at NTA, there’s still more to do to achieve sustainability and global competitiveness of tobacco production and provide more opportunities for farmers and their communities to earn more.
NTA Family an Utmost Priority
“The challenge for me is to refocus our efforts in helping the tobacco industry increase its quality production in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“That’s why early on we have started appealing to the manufacturers and leaf buyers to raise their purchase commitment for the next cropping season to sustain the income-generating activities of smallholders,” he added.
And while he speaks about increasing farmers’ productivity and income, JR Seares has also made the needs of the employees his top priority.
“We always talk about the tobacco farmers, but this is the time that we talk about the employees, especially now that we are in a pandemic; they are our committed frontliners who are brave and hard at work in service our farmers and other stakeholders,” he said
“My office is open for everyone, I am always ready to listen to everyone’s concerns,” he declared in one of the flag raising rites that he regularly attends.
He added that the agency draws the strength “from our unity as a family—the NTA family, and from there, let this resiliency and unity transcend to our Branch Offices, and eventually to our farmers.”
The pandemic has not discouraged Seares to work hard, as he attends to one virtual meeting to another in constant dialog with the Operations Group and various stakeholders to evaluate current programs and prepare for the forthcoming cropping season. In fact, he looks at the difficult situation as a chance to discover and improve manpower potentials and enhance the communication capability of the agency under the “new normal” condition where most of government transactions and interactions are done online.
He is up to the challenge, he said, and he does not fail to acknowledge President Duterte and Senator Bong Go for giving him the trust to serve the industry stakeholders, especially the tobacco growers.
Young Achiever
JR Seares is the youngest among the four siblings of the late NTA Administrator Dr. Robert L. Seares and Sesy G. Seares. He spent his elementary and high school years at Claret School of Quezon City. He graduated from University of Sto. Tomas with a Bachelor of Science degree, major in Botany and further pursued Doctor of Medicine at Our Lady of Fatima until his junior year.
Growing up and living with doctors and healthcare providers in the family was a learning process for himself because people are looking at them with so much respect and admiration. Both his grandfather and father were doctors, his mom is a nurse, some of his uncles, aunts, and cousins are doctors or working in the medical sector. Though he was not able to finish the medical school, he knew that he could continue taking care of people in some other way. He then challenged himself to venture on another career path and reestablish the Seares family in the political arena after so many years of absence in local elections. He first ran and won as mayor of Dolores at the young age of 30.
This is not anymore a surprise for the Seares clan because politics runs in the blood. His late grandfather, Dr. Petronilo V. Seares, Sr., was a Mayor, Vice-Governor and Governor of Abra from 1965 to 1971, and the late NTA Administrator was the Mayor of Bangued, Abra for six years (1980-1986) and served as Doctor to the Barrios before his appointment to the tobacco regulatory agency.
JR Seares transformed the 5th class municipality into one of the most progressive towns in the Cordillera Administrative Region and a consistent DILG Seal of Good Governance Awardee (2016-2020).
JR Seares was feted as Most Outstanding Mayor Award for 2013 by the Superbrand Marketing International, Inc. (SMI), the only international award-giving body in Marketing/Branding in the Philippines that identifies excellence in governance and honoring outstanding individuals in the field of politics.
Dolores during Mayor JR’s term also received other recognitions such as the inclusion to the Top 5 Nationwide in terms of Excellence in Public Service based on the ARTA (Anti-Red Tape Act) Report Card 2017 of the Civil Service Commission for providing excellent public service to its constituents.
He was consistently cited for his achievements in supporting and improving the system on health services of local communities, educational development through the construction of new classrooms, promotion of tourism and entertainment sector through the Sakuting Festival as part of the town’s fiesta, and various infrastructures to improve agricultural activities such as farm-to-market roads.
JR Seares is married to Jennifer Tiu Seares from Davao City, a Member of the Board of Directors of Movie and Television Regulatory Commission Board (MTRCB). They are blessed with four handsome boys all named “Victor,” after the triumphs and blessings in the life of Robert Victor.
For someone who has made good as a public servant for more than a decade now, JR Seares looks forward to at least two more years to serve the industry and fulfill the dreams of his father of a progressive and sustainable industry where every tobacco grower is happy with the fruits of his or her labor. |
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