Photo Release

Hearing on rising prices: Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, leads the continuation of the inquiry into the alarming increases in the prices of basic commodities and the actions taken by the Department of Agriculture, Monday, February 22, 2021. During the last hearing, Villar noted the senators' opposition to the proposal to reduce tariffs on pork importation to as low as 5 percent as it would further burden local hog raisers who are already suffering from the African swine flu. “Through this hearing, I hope that we would be able to find a common ground and find solutions to help the Filipino people overcome this pandemic. It’s only through dialogue of both the government and the private sectors and the concerted efforts of all key stakeholders that we will truly heal and recover as one nation,” Villar said. (Screen grab/ Senate PRIB)