By Marilyn Galang – PNA News
PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, asked farmers to stay firm in their heroic work of producing food for every Filipino as she broke the news that the Duterte administration would soon pour multi-billion-peso funds for various agriculture programs.
Speaking before farmers and other agriculture stakeholders during the 4th Farmers’ Congress here on Thursday, Villar said the government will allocate PHP10 billion annually for farm mechanization, seeds, trainings and other forms of support once President Rodrigo Duterte signs into law the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund next year.
Half of the fund will go to farm mechanization, she said.
Villar cited the crucial role of farmers in society and the lives of every Filipino.
“Huwag ninyong mamaliitin ang kontribusyon niyo sa ating bansa (Do not underestimate your contribution in our country),” she said which was answered with great applause by the farmers.
The Farmers’ Congress is an annual undertaking by the city government under Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas as an opportunity to honor agricultural workers and provide an avenue for discussion among them, as well as with representatives of various government agencies.
The senator acknowledged that while farmers play a vital role, they remain among the poorest people in the country.
“Hindi dapat tumigil ang pamilyang Pilipino sa pagsasaka (The Filipino families should not stop from farming),” she said
