Villar sees hike in rice production this year

by Luel Galarpe/PNA

SINULOG GUEST. Senator Cynthia Villar briefly entertains questions from the Cebu media during the Sinulog celebration at the Cebu City Sports Center on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (Photo by Luel Galarpe)

CEBU CITY — Senator Cynthia Villar hopes that the country’s rice productivity will improve this year with the passage of the General Appropriations Act for 2019.

Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, told local media in a short interview Sunday that the budget will be passed next week.

“Our PHP10-billion budget for agriculture is intended to improve our rice productivity this year,” Villar said.

She said she hopes the country’s rice production will eventually increase to six metric tons from the current four metric tons per hectare.

“Hopefully, ma-modernize din ang agriculture natin (our agriculture industry will also be modernized),” she added.

Villar was among the government officials who graced the Sinulog 2019 celebration at the Cebu City Sports Center, where the dance competition contingents make their final performance.

“I’m happy to be here to celebrate the Fiesta Señor with the Cebuanos,” the lady lawmaker said.

Villar, who has also attended the previous Sinulog events, said the festival has always been a nice experience “where you can see the culture and heritage of Cebu.”

“I admire the creativity of the Cebuanos. And of course, it’s for our Sto. Niño. Hopefully, with this festival, pagpapalain lalo ang mga Cebuano (Cebuanos would further be blessed),” she said in concluding her brief talk with media people.

Meanwhile, several showbiz personalities joined the grand Sinulog parade aboard the floats of different contingents.

They include Alden Richards, Regine Tolentino, Coco Martin, Yassi Pressman, John Pratts, Maja Salvador and Bea Alonzo, among more others.

Popular

PBBM congratulates Alex Eala on historic Wimbledon victory

By Jose Rafael Cesar C. Atencio President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday congratulated Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala for her landmark triumph in the...

PBBM assures unhampered support for Filipinos in Canada

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Rounding off his multiple engagements in Vancouver before heading back to the Philippines, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Philippine...

VP on trial: What you need to know about the impeachment of Sara Duterte

By Brian Campued About five months since the second series of impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte was formally initiated, the House prosecution panel...

Impeachment trial: The pursuit of truth, justice, and accountability

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet At its core, every government around the world implements a set of checks and balances enshrined in its respective constitution to...