Farmers back former NTA head

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – The country’s federation of tobacco farmers’ cooperatives yesterday welcomed reports that former Administrator Carlitos Encarnacion of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is set to return to his old post that he vacated several months ago.

Carlos Cachola, president of the Philippine Association of Tobacco Farmers’ Cooperatives (PATCO), at the same time, urged President Arroyo to cause Encarnacion’s immediate takeover of the tobacco agency which he said is saddled with many problems.

In expressing their support for the former administrator, Cachola said that Encarnacion has a remarkable record during his stewardship of the agency "which could be put into good use at this time that NTA is facing seemingly insurmountable odds."

Word has spread in the province that Mrs. Arroyo appointed Encarnacion back to NTA. It was gathered that the president herself, during a gathering of local officials, named Encarnacion to the post when the subject of NTA’s leadership came up.

Cachola asked Mrs. Arroyo to lose no time in releasing Encarnacion’s appointment as the trading season for the farmers’ tobacco yield draws near. He said farmers are looking for a firm leadership at NTA to ensure that their produce may command good prices and proper classification from the hands of traders.

He said he was confident that the president has the interests of the tobacco farmers and their families in mind who constitute a big block of the populace in the northern provinces.