Tobacco trading has started in the Ilocos Region with the opening of 11 buying stations in Candon, La Union and Pangasinan beginning March 4, opening opportunities for tobacco growers to get a better price of their produce for 2021-2022 cropping season with increased floor prices for all tobacco types.
In La Union, TransMania Inc. opened two buying stations for Virginia and Burley tobacco in Agoo and Balaoan on March 4 and 15, respectively. Continental Leaf Tobacco (Phils.) Inc., in Bacnotan opened its trading activities on March 18, while Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc. (ULPI), its three buying stations for Virginia, Burley and Native in Agoo on March 23.
Trading operations in Pangasinan officially started with the opening of two buying stations for Native and Burley of Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. (ULPI) in Carmay East, Rosales, Pangasinan on March 17.
ULPI also opened their buying stations for Virginia in Candon City and Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur on March 17. ConLeaf opened its Virginia buying station in Sta. Cruz on March 18.
According to the NTA Regulation Department (RD), the rest of the buying stations in Ilocos will begin trading operations in the coming weeks. Trading operations in Region 2 for Burley and Native tobacco will start in mid-April. The department has issued licenses to purchase tobacco to 28 buying stations in tobacco-growing areas in Region 1 and 2.
The Tripartite Consultative Conference last November reached a P3 increase in floor prices per kilogram across all grades for Virginia and Burley, and a P4 increase across all grades for Native tobacco beginning this year.
Before the approval of the opening of trading operations, NTA Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. enjoined the buying stations to use required documents in the purchase of tobacco from tobacco farmers and to display tobacco grades samples with the NTA Grades Standards in conspicuous area in the buying stations.
Before the opening of trading, the Monitoring Team of each NTA Branch has ensured accurate weight of tobacco in the trading floor with the inspection and calibration of weighing scale paraphernalia in the buying stations.
Extension workers from the Branch Offices will also be assigned in each buying station to monitor trading operations and assist the farmers on the proper handling and preparation of tobacco before delivery.
According to Atty. Rohbert A. Ambros, Manager of the NTA Regulation Department, seven registered wholesale tobacco dealers has committed to purchase a total of 49.4 million kilos of tobacco this trading year.Last cropping season, the total acceptances of tobacco was 46.28 million kilos of tobacco, valued at P4.1 billion.
[with reports from Candido Liangao (LA Union) & NTA Pangasinan]