Villar urges public to eat vegetables as food crisis looms

FILE PHOTO: Vegetables and fruits are being sold in a market. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines —  Filipinos may survive the imminent food crisis if they eat vegetables.

That was the suggestion of Senator Cynthia Villar, who again pushed for vegetable gardening when asked about the impending food scarcity when interviewed at the Senate.

Villar is the chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, food, and agrarian reform.

“Actually kailangan lang ano tayo hardworking kasi katulad ng vegetable, in my experience, sa aking farm school ang nagdadala talaga ng farm school ko in terms of ng income, vegetable,” the senator initially told reporters.

“Yun ang maganda sa vegetable, kapag marami tayong vegetable kahit wala na tayong ibang  kakainin pwede na ring puro vegetable,  healthy pa ‘di ba?” she said.

Villar lamented that in the Philippines, emphasis is given more to rice than vegetables – even if rice production in the Philippines is not as  “competitive” as in Vietnam or other countries where rice prices are lower.

“Maybe we should emphasize also vegetable para makatulong (to help),” the senator stressed.

When galunggong (round scad) prices went up in 2019,  Villar also advised the public to find other food alternatives like vegetables.

READ: Galunggong now too costly? Then don’t eat it; eat vegetables – Villar

“Bakit ba gustong-gusto ‘yung galunggong kung kulang ang galunggong? Eh lalong nae-encourage ‘yung price increase. Ba’t ayaw kumain ng gulay?” she said then.

(Why insist on galunggong when there is a shortage? It only encourages price increases. Why not eat vegetables?)

KGA/abc