QUEZON CITY -- In January last year, Administrator/CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. announced some reforms to strengthen the communication and information capability of the agency under the “new normal.” This include effective online presence with a quality website and social media links to provide a more comprehensive source of information on its programs and services. And on Monday (February 7) the agency hosted the launching of its “Oras ni Mannalon ti Tabako” radio program streamed live on its official Facebook page for wider reach and sustainability.

The event was opened by Administrator Seares who reported on updates of the off-season rain that affected tobacco farms in Northern Luzon in January.

The Administrator bared the immediate intervention and long-term assistance being worked out by the agency to the affected farmers, which include emergency cash assistance, provision of biostimulants to help in the crop recovery, and restructuring of production assistance.

Joining Administrator Seares were acting Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Cesario G. Sambrana, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur Sangguniang Bayan Member Arlon Serdenia, and NTA Candon officer-in-charge Adonis D. Lazo.

The guests used their time to discuss the ongoing damage assessment and immediate assistance to the affected farmers. According to Engr. Sambrana, affected farmers reached 15,180 : 6,039 are contract growers under the NTA Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) and 9,141 are non-TCGS farmers.

The guests also answered queries from live audience through the comment section during the Q&A moderated by OMT host Melanie R. Parel, Public Relations Officer III.

According to Administrator Seares, the OMT radio program, which will be live-streamed weekly beginning on Thursday, will be a venue to educate the farmers on the quality tobacco production, adding that the anchors and their resource persons are all experts in tobacco production.

OMT radio program will be streamed live on this FB page every Thursday and Friday (1:30 to 2:15 PM), with designated anchors from the Branch Offices in Abra, Candon, Vigan, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela and Cagayan.

The first OMT broadcast from the branch on Thursday will be co-hosted by NTA Candon and NTA Abra. 

OMT is one of the various activities under the Communication Support Project of the agency. This was previously aired in radio stations in major tobacco-growing provinces during tobacco season. (DA-NTA)