Press Release
September 30, 2019

Transcript of interview with Sen. Cynthia Villar on DA budget

Q: Hindi pa napapasa ang DA budget?

Villar: Kasi hindi namin na-hearing iyong by agency, by program,lahat. We followed the questions of the senators. Kasi iba-iba ang concern nila and most of them are concerned with rice. Hindi namin na-touch ang livestock, fisheries saka iyong ibang agency like training, ibang agencies. Hindi namin lahat na-touch kasi we just follow the questioning of the senators of what to touch.

Q: Ano iyong concern na ni-raise nyo kanina about NFA?

Villar: Kailangan ipagbili nila ang stocks nila para maibalik sa kanila ang pera. And then, malapit na kasi harvest season. Para makabili sila ng rice sa local farmers. Because that is their mandate, to buy rice from the local farmers and sell it to the Filipino consumers at reasonable price.

Q: What if hindi pa rin nila ginawa ang job nila?

Villar: Kaya nga pine-pressure namin silang gawin iyon and at the same, in case hindi sila maging successful, nagpautang na ang Landbank sa sabi nila 30 governors, mamimili na rin sila ng rice para sa kanilang use and to help also the farmers. Pauutangin sila ng landbank at 2 %, isasanla lang nila ang IRA nila.

Q: Diba minention ninyo kanina na makakarating sa presidente?

Villar: Oo, kapag hindi sila namili at hindi nila pinagbili, pupunta na ako kay Presidente. Kasi kami palagi ang nai-isyuhan tungkol sa hindi nila pamimili ng rice. Sasabihin ko sa Presidente.

Q: On RCEF

Villar: Hindi pwede. Maliwanag na maliwanag ang RCEF, RCEF is P5 billion for mechanization; P3 billion for inbred seeds production; P1 billion for credit; and P1 billion for training. Hindi nila magagalaw iyon because that is the provision of the law. Unlike iyong rice program, they can do what they want to do with it as it is not provided for in the law.

Q: Magkano ang mage-gain na funds kung instead of cash, rice and ibibigay sa CCT beneficiaries?

Villar: P31 billion ang rice subsidy under CCT. If we buy rice, we will be buying P31 billion worth of rice for a year.

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