Philippine President Appoints New Head of National Tobacco Agency

According to the Philippine Star, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robert Victor Seares Jr. as the Executive Director and CEO of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) on June 10.

Seares took his oath at a ceremony held at the NTA central office in Quezon City, officiated by Judge Josie Rodil of the Marikina Regional Trial Court.

Seares Jr., who previously served as the mayor of Abra, succeeds his father, Robert Seares Sr., who passed away on March 19 of this year.

Seares Jr. vowed to continue the initiatives started by his father and to protect the welfare of tobacco farmers.

The NTA is an agency under the Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting the interests of tobacco farmers and other stakeholders in the industry.