A NEW five-year strategic plan has been approved by the NTA Governing Board that has five priority areas with strategic objectives to help chart the direction of the tobacco regulatory agency in fulfilling its mandate of promoting farmers’ welfare.
The approval is based on the results of the strategic planning workshop and other related activities early this year, presented by Corporate Planning Department Manager Fortuna C. Benosa to the Board during its Joint Board Committee Meeting of Legal Matters and Properties, Research, and Extension, held at the NTA Central Office in Quezon City on June 15.
NTA Administrator and CEO Belinda S. Sanchez presided over the joint committee meeting that also discuss and address some administrative matters and operations concerns for the smooth implementation of the programs and projects of the agency. The approval of the results of the NTA Strategic Plan was held during the Regular Board Meeting on the next day.
The results include the revised mission, vision and core values; newly formulated strategic objectives with identified performance measures; strategic initiatives and programs; and set targets. According to Neyo E. Valdez, chief of the Planning, Programming, and Evaluation Division of the Corporate Planning Department, the results are highlights of the initial draft of the NTA Strategic Plan 2023-2028 submitted to the Governing Board prior to the meeting.
Overall priority areas will help the agency become resilient in the next five years as it endeavor for progressive and empowered tobacco farmers and other industry stakeholders through meaningful programs that improve productivity and promote global competitiveness.
Also present in the Board Room during the Joint Board Committee Meeting were members of the Board, Directors Nestor C. Casela, Jessie Pat Serna, Wilfredo Martinez, Danilo Trongco, and Luz Padayao; with Executive Assistant Special Assistant to the Administrator Benjamin V. Sarmiento, Deputy Administrator for Operations Dr. Giovanni B. Palabay, Deputy Administrator for Support Services Benedicto M. Savellano, Administrative Department Manager Zenaida T. Arrojo, General Services and Procurement Division OIC Engr. Abraham D. Dela Pena, Acting Board Secretary Atty. Jun Fred V. Parado. The online participants were Regulation Department Manager Atty. Rohbert A. Ambros, Internal Audit Department Dinah E. Pichay, Industrial Research Department Manager Myrna O. Lozano, Finance Department OIC Reynaldo R. Aquino, Farm Technology and Services Department Manager Evangeline C. Cabigan, and Branch Managers Noralyn I. Idica (Vigan), Gilbert Taguiam (Cagayan), and Joefrey T. Bautista (Isabela).