Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. presided over an emergency meeting with the Top Management on January 31 to discuss the effect of freak rain over the weekend that caused flooding in tobacco farms in Northern Luzon.
He ordered Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Cesario G. Sambrana, in coordination with the Branch Offices, to conduct assessment of damages as photos of flooded farms in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union and Abra have already reached the Top Management.
The rain hit at a time when most of the crops were on vegetative stage, with crops in some areas ready for harvest early next month.“
Based on the assessment from the branches, we will look into an immediate intervention and long-term assistance to our farmers, similar to what we have given them to those affected to the freak rain last year,” the Administrator said.
A three-day off-season rain in January last year affected 1,206 hectares of tobacco farms in tobacco growing provinces, with a total of P77-M worth of crop damages.
The agency implemented the restructuring of the production assistance given to the affected farmers, in addition to the livelihood assistance given to more than 4,000 affected farmers through the Gulayan at Manukan sa Barangay project.
“In addition, we plan to release an emergency cash assistance to the affected farmers, with the approval of the NTA Governing Board,” he said as he assured the farmers of the agency’s “steadfast commitment” to help them in their farming venture.