The National Tobacco Administration held a two-day parliamentary procedure training for 35 tobacco farmers and leaders in Batac, Ilocos Norte. The training aimed to empower the marginalized tobacco sector by teaching proper meeting conduct and decorum, as the government's higher excise taxes on tobacco under the TRAIN law may discourage farming and increase imports. Participants engaged in role-playing a mock meeting to practice their new parliamentary skills.

1. PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURE
August 30 - 31, 2018
National Tobacco
Administration
Batac, Ilocos Norte
The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) in coordination with PCDS Florentino
B. Lorenzana, initiated the conduct of the said training for the leaders and workers
of tobacco-based co-ops and organizations in the province.
As an identified need of the participants, the NTA
also recognized the essential role of the agency
in terms of empowering the marginalized sector
especially during these times when the tobacco
industry is affected by the shift in priority policies
of the Government.
The imposition of higher excise taxes on tobacco
products under the TRAIN law may discourage
farmers from planting the crop and may force the
country to import more.

2. There were a total thirty five
(35) tobacco-based farmers and
leaders who attended the activity
all of whom showed great
interest in learning the proper and
basic decorum in running a
meeting.
There was a role-playing of the
participants conducting a mock
meeting.