by Neyo E. Valdez
Deputy Administrator for Operations Dr. Roberto R. Bonoan meets various stakeholders in consultative meeting on the tobacco industry roadmap in Rosales, Pangasinan.
NTA convened in series of consultative meetings sectoral representatives of the industry stakeholders to discuss enhancing productivity and income of farmers with new industry roadmap.
Main highlight of the meetings was the presentation of the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program (STEP), a five-year development program for industry growth, anchored on the twin targets of increased productivity and increased farmers’ income.
According to Deputy Administrator for Operations Dr. Roberto R. Bonoan, the consultative meetings helped the agency gather additional inputs and comments from the representatives of major tobacco leaf buying firms, farmer leaders, and other stakeholders.
The development plan includes various interventions and strategies from the Tobacco Industry Roadmap (2018) and the agency’s mandate, aligned with the Duterte administration’s 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda to eradicate hunger and poverty through the 25-year long-term development plan entitled Ambisyon Natin 2040.
The ultimate goal is to chart the course for the tobacco industry in the next five years (2020-2024) in line with the “new thinking” in agriculture by Agriculture Secretary William Dar and in accord with the development plan of the buying firms and all industry partners in the private sector.
The new thinking includes the eight paradigms: modernization, industrialization, farm consolidation, export promotion, infrastructure development, roadmap development, legislative support, and budget and investment.
Fortuna C. Benosa, NTA Corporate Planning Department Manager, discussed in each meeting the overview of the STEP and the agency’s expanded programs and projects for the modernization and sustainability of the industry, and for potential collaborations with stakeholders and various government agencies.
In Pangasinan, NTA consulted buying firms Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. (ULPI) and Trans-Manila, Inc, and the farming sector represented by Saturnino C. Distor, president of the Pangasinan chapter of the National Federation of Farmers Association and Cooperatives.
The meeting was held at the NTA Training Center in Carmay East, Rosales, Pangasinan on June 10-11.
“For this meeting, we focused on tobacco block farming, as the centerpiece strategy for the STEP, with discussions on farm mechanization, irrigation systems and fuelwood/bamboo production, three of the major components of the block farm,” said Bonoan.
The host Branch Office limited the number of participants to a maximum of 10 participants per day, recognizing health protocol required under the general community quarantine. “But we will continue our consultation with other stakeholders and partners before we finalize the roadmap for implementation in this coming crop year,” added Bonoan.
NTA Pangasinan Branch Manager Engr. Cesario G. Sambrana presented the NTA Tobacco Farm Mechanization Program, which is expected to modernize field activities on tobacco production using new technologies and packages of farm machineries for block farming.
Bonoan also spearheaded the meeting with the president of Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. (ULPI), the country’s largest tobacco growing and processing firm, to discuss the five-year development plan for the Philippine tobacco industry. This was held at the NTA Central Office in Quezon City on May 11.
Enhancement Program (STEP) during the consultation.
ULPI President Winston P. Uy provided inputs on the roadmap, as he commended the agency for crafting the development plan, its fresh initiatives for industry growth centered on farmers.
According to Uy, this new thinking of industry leaders will create lots of opportunities that can spur progress of the tobacco-farming sector. “Whatever system in place in the past, the industry must make sense of it and make it better, and have the stakeholders continue improving themselves,” added Uy.
Ilocos Sur Representative and Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor Savellano organized a meeting with NTA and other government agencies to discuss convergence of initiatives and interventions in support of the tobacco growers, under the proposed tobacco industry roadmap. The meeting was held at the Villar Hall, South Wing Annex, House of Representatives in Quezon City on January 29.
The Deputy Speaker wanted the agency, in partnership with concerned agencies, to concentrate on the basic needs of farmers in quality tobacco production, particularly irrigation, farm mechanization, provision of farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, curing facilities, and renewable fuelwood program.
and other government agencies to discuss convergence of initiatives and interventions
in support of the tobacco growers, under the STEP.
(Photos: Neyo E. Valdez)