Senator Cynthia Villar rebukes officials of National Dairy Authority and Philippine Carabao Center during a Senate hearing on October 17, 2023. (Photos from Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar erupted anew on Tuesday over the poor supply of locally-produced milk in Philippines.
At the receiving of her ire were the top officials of National Dairy Authority (NDA) and Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).
“Alam mo, pag ganyan kayo sumagot, sasabihin ko, napakabobo nyo!” Villar said at one point during the hearing of the Senate subcommittee on finance.
(When you answer like that, I’ll say you’re so stupid.)
“Sasabihin mo sa akin, dairy animal 24,000. Tapos, sasabihin mo may lalaki,” she noticed.
(You’ll tell me there are 24,000 dairy animals. Then, you tell me there are males.)
“Pag dairy animal, walang lalaki!” she scolded NDA Administrator Gabriel Lagamayo.
(In dairy animals, there are no males!)
“Ano ba yan?! Naiinis ako!” she went on.
(What is that?! I am annoyed!)
She made the remarks after Lagamayo reported to the committee that the population of dairy animals in the country is now around 24,000.
While the number is fewer than the 30,000 dairy carabao population, he said they were able to produce 16 million liters of milk last year.
“I need to also emphasize na out of the 24,000 dairy animals, sabi ko nga po, halo-halo dito — babae, lalaki, mula bata hanggang inahin, nasa 5,500 po ang gumatas nung 16 million (liters),” the NDA chief said.
(I also need to emphasize that out of the 24,000 dairy animals, as I mentioned earlier, they are a mix of females and males, ranging from young to mothers, about 5,500 of them produced 16 million liters.)
Villar stressed once more there should be no males in dairy animals.
She then advised NDA to fix its presentation.
The senator went on to express her dismay at the agency.
She said she is most frustrated with NDA, among of all government agencies.
Her anger is due to the fact that local milk production remains merely one percent of the demand.
“Anong ginawa nyo for 30 years?” Villar questioned the government official in charge.
(What have you done for 30 years?)
“Tapos, sasagutin nyo ako ng ganyan. E, napakamali naman nyan!” she pointed out.
(And then you answer me like that. That is quite wrong!)
“Ni hindi mo alam kung ano ang babae o lalaki sa inyong population!” the senator fumed.
(You don’t even know what is female or male in your population!)
“Ayusin nyo yan! Nahihimatay ako sa inyo…” she vented her wrath.
(You fix that. I am collapsing because of you…)
Before this instance, Villar also lashed at PCC Director Caro Salces.
Salces had told the committee that carabao milk production can double only every after five years.
PCC expects to produce six million liters of milk from 30,000 dairy carabao this year and an additional two million liters every year.
“After 5 years?! Maloloka ako sa inyo!” the senator exclaimed.
(I’ll go crazy because of you!)
RELATED STORIES:
Dumb kids? Villar sees lack of affordable milk
Villar urges DA to improve dismal milk production in PH