Volume VIII * No. 6 www.nta.da.gov.ph November - December 2017 Stakeholders meet on proposed trade rules amendments TA has started consulting Nthe tobacco farmers and the private sector on the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Trading Rules and Regulations. Agency officials, headed by Administrator Robert L. Seares, met on November 9 with representatives from tobacco buying firms and the farming sector in a consultative meeting initiated by the NTA Regulation Department (RD) held at the NTA Central Office in Quezon More income from tobacco production for local growers, including this hardworking Burley grower City. of Baccuit, Amulung, Cagayan, is assured with better production assistance package, increased According to Engr. Alex L. Borje, subsidies, and reduced interest rates offered by the agency starting this current crop year. Chief Tobacco Production and Photo: Roberto F. Pedro Regulation Officer of RD, among the salient features of the proposed amendments to the trading rules and regulations, are the inclusion of the definition of pole vaulting, Tobacco growers receive performance bond to support purchase commitment and financial guarantee, update on the amounts of license/permit fees, inclusion P280-M production aid of the provision to institutionalize HE National Tobacco Administration has given a total of the Tobacco Tripartite Consultative P280.13 million to tobacco farmers in tobacco-growing Conference, pegging the amount of provinces this year. research and regulation fees, and T increase of fines in case of violations The production assistance package on trading rules and regulations. is under the various flagship projects Also included is the revised of the agency such as the Integrated provision on application for License and Authority to Buy/Purchase Leaf Farming and Other Income Generating Tobacco. Issuance of said license Activities Project (IFOIGAP), Curing According to Benosa, 20% of the cost and authority will only be limited to Barn Assistance Project (CBAP), of fertilizers and pesticides is given as those who have existing contract/ and Renewable Fuelwood Energy subsidy to the farmers, with possible marketing agreement with NTA- Development Project. increase to 40% in CY 2018. registered tobacco farmers. Fortuna C. Benosa, officer in charge The agency has reduced beginning this Other agency officials in the of the Corporate Planning Department, in year the interest on production assistance meeting were Deputy Administrator her report submitted to the Department of for Operations Atty. Mel John I. from 6% to 2% per annum and the one- Verzosa; Directors Rodolfo F. Budget and Management, said that of the time service fee, from 2% to 1% per Salanga, Nestor C. Casela, Wilfredo total amount, P114.89 million was given annum, which is lower than the prevailing C. Martinez, and Teofilo R. Quintal; as production assistance to the farmers interest rates. and Regulation Department OIC Atty. in the form of cash for land preparation, “One of the main thrusts of this Rohbert A. Ambros. gas and oil, and fuelwood; and in kind current administration is to align all its The farmers were represented in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, and programs and activities toward income by the officers of the National suckerides. augmentation for our farmers,” said Federation of Tobacco Farmers A total of 2,841 hectares of tobacco Associations and Cooperatives, Deputy Administrator for Operations Atty. headed by Mario E. Cabasal. farmlands are being cultivated by 4,617 Mel John I. Verzosa. He said that one Universal Leaf Philippines, tobacco farmers under the Tobacco way to increase their income is to lessen Incorporated, Philip Morris Fortune Contract Growing System (TCGS) this production cost in their farming venture Tobacco Corporation, La Suerte cropping season in tobacco-growing through the provision of production Pls turn to page 2 provinces. subsidies. Pls turn to page 2 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 1 Tobacco Season CY 2017-2018 is on. Tobacco seedbeds such as those found in Cabulalaan, Sinait, Ilocos Sur are a common scene in the tobacco growing areas in the Ilocos Region at the start of the tobacco cropping season. A decline in the area of land planted to tobacco is expected this year as the NTA imposed the strict implementation of Total Contract Growing System to ensure ready market for the farmers’ produce. Amidst the various threats to profitable tobacco production, the incoming season holds promise to the tobacco growers as it marks the adoption of the new set of floor prices in the next tobacco trading and the provision of more subsidies to the farmers to augment their income in their farming venture. Photos were taken during the visitation of the farm of seedling grower Loreto Ancheta of Brgy. Cabulalaan by the NTA Vigan last November 6. The seedlings are ready for transplanting. Felicidad T. Tagad, NTA Vigan Branch Tobacco growers receive P280-million... from page 1 seedlings was planted in July 2017. “A subsidy gives them the real Lineup of projects next year support that will help them gain more According to Benosa, another lineup profits, thereby contributing to poverty of projects to be implemented next year alleviation and inclusive growth, as they will give more benefits to the farmers. augmentation program of the agency. produce world-class quality tobacco,” he These are the Beef Cattle Dispersal for For the implementation of CBAP, a added. Tobacco Farmers and the Integrated total of 3,934 tobacco growers received Production subsidy and reduced Demo/Model Farm and Extension curing barn assistance amounting to interest rates have been part of the Training Laboratory with the installation P95.5 million from NTA. This was interventions being implemented by of Solar-Powered Irrigation System. released in separate batches from July the current leadership of Administrator For beef cattle dispersal, with an to December. Of the total number of Robert L. Seares to augment the income estimated budget of P50 million, a total farmers, 2,441 were extended assistance of the farmers for tobacco production. of 1,109 heads of cattle will be dispersed for construction/repair of flue-curing Other interventions include livelihood for the tobacco farmers (see related story barns, while the rest are for construction/ training courses for tobacco farming on page 4). repair of air-curing sheds. families and other income generating For the Integrated Demo/Model Farm NTA implemented the CBAP to activities such as rice production and hog project, with an estimated budget of promote the use of the prescribed raising. P12.5 million, the provincial branch efficient curing barns/sheds and help the offices will establish the demo/model Rice production, other projects farmers increase their income through the farms in their respective areas and these The agency distributed rice production production of properly cured leaf. will serve as a show window for tobacco assistance amounting to P25.54 million The farmers either received P20,000 farmers with the objective of improving to the farmer-cooperators of its IFOIG- each for repair/improvement of flue- their income. AP Rice Wet Season 2017. Some 2,654 curing barn for Virginia (or air-curing The agency has also provided farmers representing an aggregate area of shed for Burley/native) or P50,000 each continuous education to the tobacco 1,897 hectares availed of said production for construction of new barns/sheds. farmers and their dependents through assistance to plant rice. Out of the P50,000 given for curing training support and livelihood Administrator Seares, along with barn construction, P10,000 was given as assistance to increase the farmers’ Deputy Administrator Verzosa, visited subsidy and the remaining amount to be income. This is under the Livelihood the branch offices in separate schedules paid in four years with similar interest as Assistance Program, in line with the during the last quarter, to meet the TCGS assistance. thrust of the agency through its Farmers farmer-cooperators for the orientation For the Renewable Fuelwood Energy Organizational Development Program. on rice production and distribution of Development Project, production The agency through the Farm production assistance. assistance amounting to P28.46 million Technology and Services Department A total of P7.37 million was also was given to 1,177 farmer-cooperators (FTSD) has started conducting this year given as production assistance to the under the Kahuyang Pangkabuhayan at trainings on meat processing, noodle, farmer-cooperators of the AgriPinoy Pangkalikasan (KPP) component of the bread and pastry making, agro-mechanic Hog Production Project this year. Hog project. The farmers were able to plant course, and sari-sari store management production is a component of the NTA a total of 3,892,800 tree seedlings in an in tobacco-growing provinces. A total of AgriPinoy Tobacco Farmers Food aggregate area of 1,130 hectares. 1,060 trainees are expected to complete Processing and Trading Center, which For the Synchronized Tree Planting the courses which will end in June next was launched in 2013, as part of income component, a total of 2,033,105 tree year. (Neyo E. Valdez) Stakeholders meeting... from page 1 their comments regarding the proposed amendments to the Regulation Department. Cigar and Cigarette Factory, Associated Anglo-American According to Atty. Ambros, the trading rules and regulations, Tobacco Corporation, and Japan Tobacco International as amended will be endorsed to the NTA Governing Board for represented the buying sector. approval. He expects the approval before February next year, Representatives of the buying sector requested for an ample in time for its orientation to the traders in the different buying time to review the written draft and said that they will be sending stations in tobacco-growing provinces. (Melanie Rapiz-Parel) 2 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 EDITORIAL NTA releases its own FOI manual Ensuring farmers’ income TA is one of the 381 government agencies that have Nsuccessfully uploaded their Freedom of Information (FOI) Manuals in their respective websites.