Since the livestock industry contributes 33 percent to the country’s agricultural production, Senator Cynthia A. Villar said she believes it should be given more budget than the fisheries sector.
Villar said the livestock sector only has a P2-billion budget as compared to the P6-billion budget of the fisheries sector, which contributes only 15 percent to the agricultural production.
In the hearing of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee, committee chairperson Villar called for the development of livestock and dairy industry. She cited the need for bigger budget allocation for the livestock industry.
“We will also give money to livestock but we want to know where we’re going to place it,” he said.
She warned that this might again go to overhead, no developmental.
“This might again go to research with no developmental,” said Villar, stressing anew he has nothing against research, but “research should result to development.”
“Hindi puwede ‘yung researching for the sake of research,” she added.
Villar had chided Department of Agriculture officials after learning that its proposed budget in 2020 included a P150-million allocation for research in the country’s national corn program.
She likewise discussed with Department of Agriculture officials, including Assistant Secretary William Medrano and National Dairy Authority Adm. Marilyn Mabale the programs that should be implemented for the development of the livestock and dairy industry.
The implementation of a carabao dispersal program in Ubay, Bohol, she said, should be replicated in many areas in the country as it succeeded to provide an additional source of income to farmers.
Villar authored Senate Bill 139 or “An Act to restructure and rationalize the livestock industry in order to strengthen its development, protection and regulatory functions.
This included the promotion of dairy and native animals and to provide for a livestock development fund.
The senator also underscored the importance of research in the agriculture sector.
However, she said this should be the end goal of resulting in concrete developments that are felt by the farmers.
In the same hearing, Villar recalled being approached by 80 farmers from Antipolo, who lost their P500, 000 capital for their banana plantation.
She said the farmers supposedly went to the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) for help. However, they ended up losing the money given to them by the Rotary Club of San Lorenzo.
“They were by the told by the head there to buy in the company that he owns. When the tissue culture was delivered, it was not working. They lost their P500,000, and the company is gone too,” said Villar.