The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) welcomed its new Administrator and CEO, Belinda Sarmiento-Sanchez during the turnover ceremony held at the NTA Central Office in Quezon City on November 21. Outgoing Administrator & CEO Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. handed over the corporate flag to Administrator & CEO Sanchez as a symbolic gesture of transfer of leadership and duties of the office.
The event was attended by top officials headed by two acting Deputy Administrators Dr. Giovanni B. Palabay (Operations) and Dinah E. Pichay (Support Services), central office employees, and former NTA Govering Board Member and former San Juan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Benjamin Sarmiento. Official and staff of the Branch Offices joined the ceremony online via Microsoft Teams.
Administrator & CEO Sanchez, the first woman to head the agency, conveyed her appreciation to the NTA family for the warm welcome. She vowed to continue the programs and projects that have been in place by the outgoing leadership.
“It’s nice meeting you all. I am looking forward to meet each and every one of you. Huwag po kayong matatakot na i-approach ako,” she said.
In his message, outgoing Administrator & CEO Seares Jr. expressed his gratitude to NTA for supporting him in his journey as head of the regulatory agency for more than two years. “I appreciate the hardwork of our employees and that’s what I did, to work hard for them and for all our tobacco farmers,” he added.
He said he is “leaving the agency in good hands” to the incoming administration.
Former mayor Sarmiento, the father of Administrator Sanchez, commended the outgoing administrator for his achievements, as he enjoined the NTA family to give the same level of support to the new leadership.
Before the turnover ceremony, Administrator Sarmiento-Sanchez took her oath office before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang.
[Text/Photo: Andrea Contillo]