Villar hits Carabao Center for dismal performance

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday denounced the dismal performance of the Philippine Carabao Center in terms of production of milk, adding that if she were the head of the agency, she will contemplate committing suicide due to shame.

During a hearing, Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture, pointed out that the country’s milk production is only 0.6% of demand, while 99.4% of milk in the country is being imported.

“After 28 years, my God, kung ako ang head niyan [PCC] at ganyan ang performance ko, magsu-suicide na ako. Nakakahiya!” she said.

“Kaya ‘yung mahihirap na bata sa Pilipinas walang pag-asang uminom ng milk kasi lahat imported. Eh mahal ang imported eh. The only way they can drink milk is mag-produce tayo sa bayan natin at ipagbili natin ng mura sa kanila,” she added.

Villar berated the PCC chief Arnel del Barrio during the hearing, especially on the agency’s feeding program.

“Hindi ikaw gagasta sa feeding, bibili lang sa sa inyo [PCC], we’re providing you a market, bakit sinasabi mo na kayo ang magpefeeding program? Hindi ba DSWD ‘yun at saka DepEd?” she said.

She also hit the agency’s budget allocation for research, adding the research is useless if it is not applied.

“Ang trabaho ng PCC ay magproduce ng maraming carabao at gumawa ng mga processing center ng carabao para yan ang bibilhan ng DepEd at ng DSWD. Nagkamali ka na naman,” the senator said.

For his part, Del Barrio clarified the PCC does not have a feeding program and is only done in coordination with the DSWD.

EDV