Senator Joel Villanueva. PHOTO FROM JOEL VILLANUEVA FACEBOOK PAGE
Senator Joel Villanueva rated Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol’s performance as “terrible” after the latter suggested legalizing rice smuggling in some parts of Mindanao.
“With the statements that he made last night, I think it’s terrible,” Villanueva said when asked in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday to rate Piñol’s performance.
The senator particularly cited the secretary’s reported statement that the government’s move against smuggling had resulted in the rice shortage in certain areas.
“Come on, that’s horrible,” Villanueva said.
The senator also expressed disbelief that Piñol himself suggested to legalize rice smuggling to address the problem in the Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi or Zambasulta area.
“I don’t know if that’s his intention,” he said. “I’m sure he doesn’t mean it.”
“You have to be more circumspect of what you say when you become the head of the agency. You just have to be careful about it,” said Villanueva, who previously headed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The senator also minced no words in expressing his dismay at the performance of the National Food Authority (NFA).
“Oh yes,” he said when asked if he was disappointed with the NFA’s performance.
“I mean who’s happy with their performance? I could hardly find one in the Senate for instance,” added Villanueva.
The senator believes the NFA is not doing its job. /jpv
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