History of National Tobacco Administration
The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) was created through Executive Order (EO) 245 issued by then President Corazon C. Aquino on July 24, 1987. It has become the sole government body that oversees and regulates the growth and development of the industry, and to look after the welfare of marginalized farmers.
Before 1987, there were eight distinct government agencies that dealt with the industry, namely, the Philippine Tobacco Administration (PTA), Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration (PVTA), Philippine Tobacco Board (PTB), Philippine Virginia Tobacco Board (PVTB), Philippine Tobacco Research and Training Center (PTRTC), Virginia Flue-Curing Board (VFB), Virginia Tobacco Fuelwood Corporation (VTFC), and the National Tobacco Classification Council (NTCC).
In order to rationalize and streamline the Philippine tobacco industry, these agencies were merged into one entity which is now the NTA.
On January 30, 1987, President Aquino during her Revolutionary Government, issued EO 116, otherwise known as Reorganization Act of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, mandating the consolidation of the aforementioned agencies into one, attached to the Department of Agriculture. The consolidation was implemented by EO 245, the NTA Charter.
In order to effectively cater to the development of the 27 major tobacco growing provinces, the NTA established its corresponding Branch Offices. These offices were strategically located in the heart of the tobacco-growing areas to implement its programs and projects, namely:
- Batac Branch Office, to cover Ilocos Norte and house the NTA Research and Training Center at the same time;
- Vigan Branch, first district of Ilocos Sur;
- Candon Branch, second district of Ilocos Sur;
- Bangued Branch Office, Province of Abra;
- San Fernando Branch Office, La Union andBenguet;
- Rosales Branch Office, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija;
- Ilagan Branch Office, Isabela, Quirino, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, and Nueva Vizcaya;
- Tuguegarao, Province of Cagayan
- San Jose Branch Office, Occidental Mindoro
- Iloilo Branch Office, the whole of Visayas;
- Cagayan de Oro Branch Office, to cover the whole of Mindanao.
In its organizational life, the NTA has undergone two streamlining programs. The first one, in 1998, which was implemented by virtue of EO 29, as amended by EO 36, that resulted in the reduction in its manpower complement from 1,126 to 750 regular positions; and in 2007, under EO 366, that left the Agency with only 350 residual positions.
After the latest reorganization, the number of branch offices were reduced to only eight, namely:
- Ilocos Norte – Batac City
- Ilocos Sur (1st District) – Vigan City
- Ilocos Sur (2nd District) – Candon City
- Abra – Bangued
- La Union – Bauang, La Union
- Pangasinan – Villasis, Pangasinan
- Isabela – Ilagan City
- Cagayan – Tuguegarao City
It also maintains extension and regulation activities for Visayas, Mindanao and Mindoro traditional tobacco growing areas, which used to be covered by branch offices that were abolished by the Department of Budget and Management on the issue of administrative viability.
The National Tobacco Administration Logo
Dynamism, Commitment and Determination – These are the pillars of what makes NTA a trusted figure in the tobacco industry. To an administration as respected as they are, it is befitting that we present its logo with pride and respect towards their vision & mission.
The NTA logo is an original design by Mr. Pablo B. Catura, Jr. of the Administrative Department. He created an insignia representing a “tobacco leaf” with three (3) specific colors representing its own meaning. In lined with their vision of building bridges towards the improvement of the farmers’ livelihood, the tobacco leaf is shown to be pointed upward representing the NTA’s twin mandates: the improvement of the quality of life & income of tobacco farmers and the balanced growth of the tobacco industry.
Moving forward, Mr. Catura has chosen the colors of Yellow, Brown and Green to represent the three (3) variants of tobacco leaves that are commercially grown in the country, namely: Virginia, Burley and Native. Of the three colors, radiantly standing out is the yellow half-oval graphic that shows NTA’s testament of global competitiveness and a brighter future that contributes to national progress and prosperity.
Presently, the NTA official logo is now enclosed in a white band, bearing the agency name and charter year, alongside the logo of the Department of Agriculture. This symbolizes that NTA is a GOCC (government-owned or controlled corporation) and a trusted partner to the department.
Sub categories
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History
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Tobacco
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Meet the Administrator
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Mandates and Functions
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Vision and Mission
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Organizational Structure
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Directory of Officials