DIALOGUE WITH SEN. CYNTHIA VILLAR ON AGRI ISSUES

The PCCI leaders had a meeting with Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform (CAFAR), where she presented the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, recently signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, last June 23, at the PCCI Office in Taguig jointly organized by the PCCI Agriculture & Fishery Committee and Legislative Committee.

The law writes off the existing loan of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from unpaid amortizations, interest, penalties, and surcharges arising from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and other agrarian reform programs and laws. It aims to help in the development of farms, increase poverty and advance an agriculture-driven economy as it gives financial relief for the ARBs.

Apart from the Agrarian Emancipation Act, other issues discussed were the concerns of domestic food processors on the accessibility of refined sugar at a lower cost and the unabated smuggling, among others.

Present are PCCI President, Mr. George T Barcelon, PCCI Vice President for Regional Affairs and Mawell Chemical Corp. President Eng. Eunina Mangio, PCCI Director of Legislative and Taxation Committee and MAP President Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad, PCCI Honorary President and Treasurer and Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., PCCI Director for Urban Housing and Development Committee and Cathay Land Inc President Jeffrey Ng, PCCI Director of Banking and Finance Committee and Founder of Zest-O, Macay Holdings Inc., and Philippine Business Bank Alfredo Yao, PCCI Assistant Treasurer Dong Benedicto, PCCI Legislative Committee and Founder of the Foundation for Economic Freedom Calixto Chikiamco, PCCI Agriculture and Fishery Committee Chairman and Sumifru President Paul Cuyegkeng, PCCI Agriculture and Fishery Committee Co-Chair, and Senior Vice President of Texicom Group of Companies, Dr. Larry Lacson, PCCI Agriculture and Fishery Committee Co-Chair and Executive Director of AgriFoodHub Salvador Salacup, Philfoodex President Ruben See, Alyansa ng Agrikultura President Ernie Ordoñez, and Chamber of Thrift Bank Executive Director, Ms. Suzanne Felix.