In preparation for the opening of trading season in the province, NTA Ilocos Norte, in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Center (SDC) of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, conducted a multi-sectoral meeting on Tobacco Contract Growing System and Installation of Tobacco Monitoring Point on February 11, held at the new INAFEC building in Laoag City.
Participants were representatives of various sectors and the municipal agriculturists of tobacco-producing municipalities in the province.
NTA Ilocos Norte Branch Manager Luzviminda U. Padayao presented the accomplishment of the agency in the last two years, specifically in documenting/safeguarding the tobacco produce in the province, and review of the activities done and problems encountered in the checkpoints in the past trading operations.
The Branch Office and the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office had established monitoring points at the Ilocos Norte-Abra Boundary in Nueva Era and in Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur boundary in Badoc.
Also in attendance who gave their messages on the multi-sectoral cooperation for the local tobacco industry were Dir. Nestor C. Casela of the NTA Governing Board; Sangunian Panlalawigan Member Domingo Ambrocio, Chairman on the Committee on Agriculture; Atty. Pancho Jose, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, PLtCol. Paul Parado, representing the PNP Provincial Director; Engr. Ma. Teresa Bacnat, Provincial Agriculturist; and Engr. Erickson Biag, representing the Municipal Agriculturists.
SDC Officer in Charge Luzviminda Ortal, in her closing message, encouraged all sectors to maintain close collaboration in the proper documentation of tobacco production, for the benefit of the province and more importantly, for the tobacco farmers.
[Text/Photos: Divina D. Pagdilao]