NTA board okays takeover of food processing plant

The board of directors of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) headed by Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban has given the green light for the agency to take control of the management and operation of the Multiline Food Processing Plant owned by the Ilocos Sur provincial government.

Earlier, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson announced that the province has chosen NTA to operate and manage the huge plant which is located in Labut Norte in Santa town.

In its meeting held last Wednesday in Quezon City, the NTA Board authorized NTA administrator Carlitos Encarnacion to negotiate and enter into a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government to formalize the link-up.

Ilocos farmers welcomed the development saying they are just too happy and ready to participate in the reactivation of Multiline as suppliers and producers of vegetables, fruits, and other farm products as well as livestock to sustain the plant’s operations.

Singson said that local farming families and fishermen are the principal beneficiaries of the renewed operation of Multiline which was envisioned to lead the province to industrialization.

With his move, the governor said President Arroyo’s job creation agenda would be boosted.

Carlos Cachola, president of the Philippine Association of Tobacco-based Cooperatives (PATCO), on the other hand, said that he has started mobilizing the farmers for the impending start of the NTA-Multiline operations.

"This is a golden oppurtunity for us, something we can’t afford to miss and we will deliver," Cachola told The STAR yesterday adding that their income will be enhanced.

PATCO will serve as NTA’s main plank as producer-supplier in operating the Multiline plant.

Ilocos farmers raise tobacco as chief crop but plant rice, vegetables, and other agricultural crops as well. NTA has been assisting them through its Integrated Farming and Other Incoming Generating Program.