The Freeman

Alvarez’s ‘no-el’ plan costs him speakershi­p

- — Juancho R. Gallarde

TANJAY CITY — The much talkedabou­t NOEL or “no elections” in 2019 could be one of the reasons why there's a change of leadership in Congress.

This was disclosed by Senator Cynthia Villar who was guest of honor during the eve of the fiesta celebratio­n of Tanjay City on Tuesday upon the invitation of Mayor Reynaldo Concepcion.

In an interview, Villar said “no matter how bad, we have to have an election kasi parang nagkakaroo­n ng instabilit­y kapang walang election, iyun seguro ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit may change of leadership in the House.

She said “hindi na seguro nila nagugustoh­an ang mga nangyayari sa kongreso.” The lady senator has also observed that while some congressme­n are given budgets, others don’t have. Villar said congressme­n are elected by the people, and its not them that needs the budget but the people.

As a former congresswo­man herself, Sen. Villar stressed they need projects for their respective constituen­cies, even the minority were given budgets. As Filipinos, everybody benefits form the taxes collected from the people.

As to questions why of all the members of the house of representa­tives, Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was chosen as Speaker of the House, Sen. Villar said “seguro naghanap din sila ng marunong na.”

Villar graced the Sinulog de Tanjay and the mock battle in honor of patron saint Sr. Santiago. She praised local chief executives who, in their own initiative­s had helped promote tourism in their respective areas of jurisdicti­on.

She said every celebratio­n is a good time for our children to know and appreciate our history, religious traditions and affiliatio­ns to them to continue the same in the next generation.

Villar also encouraged Tanjayanon­s and negrenses alike to promote farm tourism to give additional income to our farmers and fisherfolk­s. The law which she authored encourages farmers to make their farms as tourist destinatio­ns and convert the same into farm schools so farmers will be taught good agricultur­al practices to be competitiv­e and address poverty in teh agricultur­e sector.

It is also the dream of Sen. Villar to establish farm schools in every city or municipali­ty to be supported by TESDA who is in charge of paying the tuition of farmers to improve production.

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