Quezon Province 1st District Representative Mark Enverga on Saturday joined his colleagues in thanking President Duterte for signing Republic Act 11524, establishing the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund.
‘’This is a manifestation of his (Duterte’s) genuine concern to the interest and welfare of the coconut farmers and the coconut industry as well,’’ Enverga said in a statement.
Speaker Allan Lord Velasco and Quezon 4th district Representative Angelina ‘’Helen’’ Tan, earlier lauded the President for signing the measure that would benefit the country’s mostly impoverished 3.5 million coconut farmers. ‘’I am glad that all his concerns and observations when he vetoed the previous coco levy bill versionn were all given due course to reflect the interests of the small coco farmers,’’ Enverga said.
‘’I also commend Speaker Lord Allan Velasco for his determination to push for the enactment of the coco levy law and by guiding us in the committee on agriculture and food in very step of the way providing us significant inputs and direction,’’ he added.
He further said: ‘’Senate President (Vicente) ‘Tito’ Sotto (III) and Senator Cynthia Villar, likewise, deserve to be commended as they remained resolute to finally make the bill acceptable to all stakeholders
." Enverga likewise cited all the members of the committee on agriculture and food in Congress "for their untiring efforts and time used just to make the house bill version truly for the benefit of the coco farmers."
‘’I do expect that the 3.5 million coco farmers will reap the benefits from the funds towards Increased productivity and income for their benefits and for the rehabilitation and modernization of the coconut industry as a whole,’’ he said.