Transcript of interview with Sen. Cynthia Villar
(hearing on rice importation)

Q: Confirmed na ba na wala nang importation by 2018?

Villar: Iyon ang projection ni Secretary Pinol, kung makukuha niya. Kasi ang importation depends on production. If the production can meet the consumption, then no importation. Marami nang nag-project nang ganoon, hindi naman natupad.

Q: Pero kayo po optimistic?

Villar: We do our computation based on their projection.

Q: If ever mangyari na no importation, this will be the first time?

Villar: I think there was a time panahon ni President Erap, may time na nag-self sufficient tayo sandali.

Q: Kanina noong binabanggit ninyo ang data, parang natatawa kayo?

Villar: Mabigat iyon, we've never done that. It's really hard kasi you have to solve the problem of productivity. Sana ma-solve nila like mechanization, better seeds, which are the major problems na hindi talaga naso-solve natin for a long, long time.

Q: Iyong 625,000 metric tons na buffer stock, saan kukunin iyon?

Villar: Sabi nila government to private, may bago sila. Hindi G2G. Kasi daw iyong government to private will be subject to government procurement law so mas matatakot sila na ma-abuse kasi it's under a law na kapag inabuse mo mapa-filan ka ng case.

Q: Hindi na po itutuloy iyong Vietnam?

Villar: Hindi, ang ibig sabihin ng government-to-private ang idi-deal nila hindi iyong government agency sa Vietnam, but private importer.

Q:Pero tuloy pa rin iyong 250 metric tons?

Villar: Yes, because there's a shortage and there's a need for a buffer stock. Parang ang tingin namin around 800. They have to dispute that but from our computation, 800,000 metric tons is enough.

Q: For this year?

Villar: Oo, iyong MAV natin mukhang okay na iyon.

Q: I-clarify ko lang, hindi kayo ganoon ka-positive na magiging self-sufficient tayo?

Villar: Kasi alam ko iyong problema. If they can solve the problem, then we can be. But that has always been the problem for so long hindi naman naso-solve.

Q: Sinasabi n'yo kanina dapat alisin na ang unli rice?

Villar: You know, the findings in other countries, mas better ang diet nila. Hindi masyadong maraming rice, may vegetable. If you really ask doctors, that's a better diet. So dapat i-train na rin nating mga Filipinos not to eat too much rice kasi nagiging diabetic. And you know, it's expensive to cure diabetes. Parang sinasabi sa ibang bansa kaya hindi sila nagiging self-sufficient, because they have a better diet. So makakatulong iyon, iyong sinasabi nilang unlimited rice, hindi maganda iyon sa diet natin.

Q: Sino magpo-promote?

Villar: DOH and Deped. They should teach children to eat more vegetables, less rice. That's developing a new diet for Filipinos. Dapat diba sa mga schools iyan tinuturo? Saka sa mga health institutions.

Q: Iyong mga adult very attracted sa rice...

Villar: Tapos na iyong adult, they have developed, too late na. It's the children. Iyong matatanda kahit magpalit hindi na gagaling iyon, may sakit na.

Q: Can you comment on the controversial ad of the Department of Tourism? Dapat bang ipenalize ang ad agency?

Villar: Hindi ko pa nga nakikita iyon. .. Maganda naman iyong it's more fun in the Philippines diba? Talaga namang fun-loving tayo.

Q: Iyong Pilipinas Ang Saya parang ginaya daw po?

Villar: Akala ko Experience Philippines?... I haven't seen it.

Q: But you are happy with the current slogan na more fun in the Philippines?

Villar: I think we are really fun-loving. Filipinos are really fun-loving. Kahit tayo maraming problema, masaya pa rin tayo hindi tayo nalulungkot.

Q: Tama lang na i-maintain na lang iyon?

Villar: Tayo talaga magagaling tayong mag-entertain ng visitors. Very hospitable tayo kaya parang bagay sa atin.

Q: Nakikita nyo rin ang effect noon kapag nasa abroad kayo?

Villar: Tingin ko we are known for our hospitality, mababait tayo sa mga visitors maski sa mga bahay nyo. Kahit wala na tayong kakainin, ipapakain pa natin sa bisita natin. Kaya parang bagay sa atin iyan.

Q: Maraming naghahanap ngayon kay President Duterte?

Villar: Ang alam ko nasa Mindanao diba? Mahilig siyang pumunta doon sa mga soldiers na nakaburol, kumakain siya with the soldiers. Mahilig siya sa Mindanao.

Q: Sabi ng Malacanang he will have his time hanggang Sunday?

Villar: I think gusto niyang ma-solve iyong Marawi. I think doon siya nagpo-focus, ayaw niya lang sabihin. I think it's a challenge for him, iyong Marawi.

Q: Hindi dahil sa may sakit siya?

Villar: Tatanungin ko kung nasaan.

Q: Iyong projection sa rice, saan po galing ang figures?

Villar: Report ni Secretary Pinol, DA. Kaya nga we will help him achieve that. If we can help him.

Q: Iyong susunod na hearing sa resumption na?

Villar: Yes, maybe July kasi I have another hearing sa garlic next week. Then I have another hearing sa environment, iyong mandamus sa Manila Bay next week. Then we go to France for the visit.

Q: On France visit

Villar: It's a visit to the French parliament but at the same time, I have an agricultural schedule sa France. I will go to a cocoa factory. Kasi we want to find markets for our cacao. Then I will go to their farmers' market, baka merong maganda doon. Because France is a very good example of successful agriculture. They say 2 percent of their population are engaged in agriculture but they are food sufficient and they can even export. So sila iyong best example of best practices in agriculture. You don't need a lot of people, you don't need a lot of land but you produce food enough for your population and for export so good example to observe.

Q: Ang netizens nagre-react why do senators have to leave?

Villar: Kasi nagpunta ang French parliament dito and they are requesting for a return visit. And at the same time, I am not really very particular about the French parliament. I want to observe agriculture in France. They are very good.

Q: Kasi ang concern nila, sino ang gagastos?

Villar: No, it's our own. It's not government. We are paying, kanya-kanya. Kailan ba nagbayad itong Senate? It's our budget. Iyong aming pera ang gagastusin namin. Usually when you go to France, eentertainin ka nila, libre iyon. Pero iyong hotel mo saka plane mo, ikaw ang magbabayad.

Q: Meals lang ang sa kanila?

Villar: Kasi noong sila din ang pumunta dito, diba kapag inimbita mo, papakainin mo. Ganoon lang iyon. But our plane fare and our hotel, we pay.

Q: Four days iyon?

Villar: Iyong sa French parliament 3 days lang. But may side trip kami na agriculture, 2 days, and iyong travel time diba malayo?