NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur, Aug. 21 (PIA) – The local government of Narvacan has consulted the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) on possible partnership through its Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita meat processing facility.
 
In a session of the Sangguniang Bayan held at the town plaza recently, Narvacan officials are proposing to avail of the toll slaughtering services of the NTA Kadiwa in Barangay Nanguneg and use the facility as temporary site for its slaughter services while the town’s slaughtering house is yet to be constructed.
 
Also invited in the consultation were members of the local meat vendors’ association.
 
“This will be a great opportunity for both parties in helping our tobacco farmers and local meat consumers to augment pork supply in the market. The proposal, however, must be presented first to the NTA Governing Board,” said Acting Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Cesario Sambrana.
 
Engr. Sambrana also discussed with the local officials other possible cooperation and collaboration on various programs and projects under the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program (STEP), a five-year tobacco industry roadmap of the tobacco industry, for the benefit of the local tobacco growers.
 
NTA Kadiwa, formerly the AgriPinoy Food Processing Plant and Trading Center, is a major component of the agency's intervention program that seeks to provide tobacco farmers with additional sources of income outside their regular trade through hog and poultry raising.
 
The National Meat Inspection Service AA-accredited facility is aligned with the Kadiwa market system of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which aims to sell major agricultural goods at a reasonable price to help poor Filipino households.
 
In February, upon the initiative of NTA Administrator/CEO Robert Victor Seares, the NTA Kadiwa delivered pork meat from its Narvacan facility to the National Capital Region in support of the government efforts through the DA to augment pork supply. (JCR/AMB/PIA Ilocos Sur with reports from NTA)