Villar claims NFA campaigned against her senatorial bid

MANILA,  Philippines–A visibly irked Senator Cynthia Villar confronted the National Food Authority (NFA) during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, accusing the agency of campaigning against her senatorial bid.

During the hearing on the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, Villar   lamented the NFA’s lack of concern for farmers that they had to seek help from local government units (LGUs) to help boost the farmers’ industry.

“Kaya kinumbinsi na namin ang mga LGU, bigyan na lang sila ng puhunan.  Sila na mamili kasi yung mga LGUs siguro, nagpapaboto sila, gusto din naman nilang makatulong para iboto sila pagdating ng eleksyon,”  she said.

(That’s why we’re convincing the LGUs to give them capital. Let them buy [rice] since the LGUs probably want their votes anyway or they also want to help [the farmers] to get their votes when the election comes.)

“Yung NFA kasi hindi nagpapaboto to e kaya wala kayong pakialam kung magalit lahat ng tao dito di ba?”

(The NFA does not need votes so they don’t care if everyone here gets mad at them.)

“Di ba noong kumandidato akong sanador, sinisiraan ako nyan ng NFA e na wag daw akong iboto kasi ako daw ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito. Tingnan mo ang dami kong boto. Walang nakinig kasi galit sa inyo ang mga tao,” Villar added.

(When I ran for senator, the NFA campaigned against me, because according to them it’s all my fault. However, I got many votes, no one listened because people are angry at you.)

Incidentally, Villar topped the May 2019 senatorial race.

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