BONGABON, Nueva Ecija, (PNA)–Senator Cynthia Villar has challenged the onion farmers here to be globally competitive considering that the country’s integration to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
IN TWO YEARS’ TIME IS FAST APPROACHING.
“IT WILL BRING ABOUT MORE INTENSE COMPETITION, WE HAVE TO BRACE FOR THAT AS WELL,” VILLAR SAID DURING HER RECENT VISIT HERE.
VILLAR, CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, HAS ALSO PROMISED THE ONION FARMERS HERE OF MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
“THE GOALS OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY ARE A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF OPPORTUNITIES, INCOME AND WEALTH; A SUSTAINED INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCED BY THE NATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE; AND AN EXPANDING PRODUCTIVITY AS THE KEY TO RAISING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY THE UNDERPRIVILEGED,” SHE SAID.
LIKEWISE, THE LADY SENATOR VOWED THAT SHE WILL DIG INTO THE REPORTED SMUGGLING OF ONION AND GARLIC.
SHE SAID THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH ILLEGAL ACTS SHOULD BE PUT BEFORE THE BARS OF JUSTICE AS THESE ACTS ARE INIMICAL TO THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY, AS WELL AS THE FARMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
“ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE PROLIFERATION OF IMPORTED GARLIC AND ONION IN THE MARKET HAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED OUR LOCAL PRODUCERS. EVEN CONSUMERS LIKE US ARE ALSO AFFECTED DUE TO THE RISE OF PRICES OF ONIONS AND GARLIC,” SHE ADDED.