Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. welcomed the implementation of online buying in tobacco buying stations as a safety measure to avoid infection of COVID-19 virus during trading operations.
Leaf buyer Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc. (ULPI) initiated the online buying, in addition to established health protocols for the safety of those involved in the trading operations.
This was launched in ULPI’s buying stations first in Rosales, Pangasinan on April 19, and in Candon City and Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur on April 21.“
Since last year, the agency has been strictly ensuring that safety and health protocols are observed from delivery and grading to payment of tobacco. This online process is another safeguard for our tobacco farmers and NTA staff assisting in the buying stations,” Administrator Seares said.
In the online buying, the tobacco are delivered to the buying station, then the farmer or his representative with assigned NTA personnel will watch the loading and grading of the leaves at designated viewing area. Then the farmer or a representative will discuss with the trading personnel for the processing of necessary documents and for payment. Farmers with bank accounts receive the payment through bank deposits. The viewing area will be disinfected for the next farmer.
Online buying will also be implemented in other buying stations of ULPI in Agoo, La Union and Alicia and Reina Mercedes in Isabela where its warehouses are located.
Photo: Tobacco farmer Jasmin Antolin of Dirdirig, Burgos, stays in front of a monitor inside a viewing booth and gets a first-hand experience of a real-time virtual grading of her tobacco delivered at the ULPI-18 buying station in Candon City, while a staff from NTA Candon assisted in the activity on the trading floor. [Edgar Torres]