Press Release
January 24, 2019

Statement of Senator Joel Villanueva on 2018 full-year GDP

While we fell short of our full-year target, our country remains on its growth track. We in government must come up with ways for our growth targets to materialize moving forward.

The cause for concern is the agriculture sector which has shrunk year-on-year. Mula sa 4.0 percentage points na naitala noong 2017, sumadsad na po ito sa 0.8.

Nakakabahala po ito dahil sa isang bansa na napakayaman sa lupain, 'di natin mapasigla ang ating sektor ng agrikultura.

We should continue to help and provide technical support to LGUs so that our agricultural extension offices will be more effective in boosting the production and income of farmers. We hope that the P43.6 billion budget we allocated to the Department of Agriculture be put to good use so that our farmers receive the most effective and necessary support to uplift the lives of their families.

Our resolve must be stronger to improve the resilience of the agriculture sector to climate change while continuously improving farmers' direct access to market, among others.

We recognize the call of Sec. Pernia to develop firm policies that will restore investor confidence in the Philippines.

Kapag may namumuhunan dito sa atin, mayroon pong trabaho para sa ating mamamayan. I'm sure our Senate will be more than willing to lend a helping hand to our economic team to craft legislation that sustains the momentum of our country's growth.

From my end, we will be vigilant in protecting the jobs that Filipinos can do. With the help of our partners in government, we shall crack the whip on illegal foreign workers who are taking away jobs from Filipinos.

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