The National Tobacco Administration, through the NTA Cagayan Branch Office, extended assistance to tobacco farmers affected by Typhoon Ulysses which hit Region 2 and the rest of Northern Luzon last week. Cagayan Branch Manager Dr. Corazon R. Riazonda spearheaded from November 18 to 20 the distribution of relief goods to tobacco growing communities in Pared, Baculod, and Agani in Alcala; Paccac, Annafatan, Tana, and Palacu in Amulung, both in Cagayan; and Moldero in Tumauini, Isabela. According to Riazonda, who is also the concurrent manager in charge of Isabela Branch, the relief goods are sourced from generous donors who immediately responded the call for support by the agency to the flood victims in the region.“Most of our donors are our co-workers from the NTA, some are our friends and relatives. May our good Lord reward the generosity of their hearts,” she said.
The whole staff of Cagayan and Isabela branches helped in the packing of reliefs and in the distribution in their respective areas. The Branch Office also received donations from the Central Office, through the efforts of Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. and the Department Managers. “We will use them for our next relief operations in Tuguegarao and in Ilagan,” she said.