Senator Cynthia Villar cited the importance of Mindanao, particularly the Davao Region, in supporting economic development.
Villar said one-third of Mindanao is devoted to agriculture, while Davao Region supplies 40% of the country’s food requirements. The challenge, she said, is how to harness the potential of the region for further economic growth.
“Davao Region is still the top coconut producer which contributed 14.4% to the country’s total production. Zamboanga Peninsula followed with 13.6% and then Northern Mindanao with 12.9%,” Villar said during the 25TH Davao Agri-Trade Expo held at SMX Convention Center.
Due to this, she said has authored and sponsored several measures in the Senate geared toward agricultural development “May these legislations assist the agriculture sector as a whole to ensure food security and better income to our people,” she said.
Villar said for Mindanao, she filed Republic Act No. 11547 which declared Davao City as the “Chocolate Capital” and Davao Region as the “Cacao Capital” of the Philippines.
This is in recognition of the two regions’ contributions to making the Philippines world-renowned by winning awards and distinction as one of the best chocolate maker in the world.
Villar said she also passed the Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022, repealing the Agri-Agra law that failed to provide lending programs to agrarian reform beneficiaries and other farmers.
Under this new law, there shall be an agriculture, fisheries and rural development financing system, consisting of loans and investments, to improve the productivity and income of farmers, fisherfolks and other beneficiaries.
To support the government in completing its agrarian reform initiatives and to improve the effectiveness of its land tenure system, Villar said she passed the New Agrarian Emancipating Act which condoned a total of P57.65 billion of unpaid amortizations, benefitting 610,054 farmers
“Aside from freeing them of their debt, under the Rice Tariffication Law for rice and the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act (CFITFA) for coconut farmers, which she also passed, tariffs collected from rice imports go to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) which provides machineries, inbred rice seeds, training and loans to farmers. Collections in excess of the P10 billion funds go to the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance,” she said.
The CFITFA provides P5 billion initial fund to jump start the coconut industry and support our coconut farmers,” also related the senator as she thanked Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry for organizing the event
to fortify the collaborations between government and industry and involve farmers and fisherfolks of Mindanao.