by Neyo E. Valdez
LOCAL chief executives of two municipalities in the second district of Ilocos Sur, in coordination with the NTA Candon Branch Office, distributed facility assistance to the local tobacco growers, in preparation of the tobacco season in their respective areas.
Mayor Brigido “Boy” Camarillo of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur distributed 510 water pumps and 400 units of electric pumps to 520 Virginia and Native tobacco growers, held at the town center on October 6.
Sangguniang Bayan Members Arlon Serdenia and Severino Dagdag, and Municipal Agricultural Officer Grace Cardona assisted the mayor in the distribution.
In Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, Mayor Joseph Simon Valdez and some SB Members led the distribution of 387 units of generators to the tobacco growers. Recipients are registered tobacco farmers tilling at least half-hectare of tobacco farm lots.
Last cropping season, Sta. Maria had 520 farmer-cooperators for the agency’s Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS), tilling an aggregate area of 394 hectares of tobacco farms. Sta. Lucia had 475 TCGS farmers with 382 hectares of tobacco farms.
Meanwhile, the neighbor municipalities of Narvacan and Nagbukel in central Ilocos Sur also gave production inputs to the tobacco growers for the upcoming cropping season.
Narvacan Mayor Luis Chavit C. Singson distributed basal fertilizers to the local tobacco growers on October 23. Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson, the mayor’s son, graced the event held at the town plaza, where he also distributed hybrid corn seeds to farmers.
In Nagbukel, Mayor Amelia Cabrera spearheaded the distribution of 5,222 bags of fertilizers, including 36 units of 8 HP multi-tiller, and 270 rolls of pressure hose to the tobacco growers. NTA Candon extension workers Nestor H. Defiesta and Janette P. Casiño assisted the local leaders in the distribution held at the town center on October 26.
NTA Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. in a recent statement has recognized the efforts of the local government units, beneficiaries of multi-billion funds from the tobacco excise tax, to increase productivity and income of their local farmers by setting up programs and projects, such as distribution of production assistance or subsidy.