Apart from recognizing the contribution of Dolores, Quezon to spur growth in the country's agricultural industry, Senator Cynthia A. Villar extolled the gains of the coconut levy fund.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar, together with Rep. David Suarez, Vice Gov. Third Alcala, Mayor Orlan Calayag and Vice Mayor Renato Alilio Jr., led the ribbon cutting ceremony during the inauguration and blessing of the newly constructed municipal building of Dolores, Quezon on July 22,2023. Villar express gratitude to the people of the municipality for their contribution to agriculture. (Photo courtesy of O/S of Cynthia Villar)
Speaking during the inauguration and blessing of the new City Hall in Dolores, Last July 22, Villar noted that 80 percent of the town's residents are engaged in agriculture.
Villar expressed her gratitude to the people of this "agricultural municipality" for being "contributors" in the production of various fruit-bearing trees like rambutan, citrus and lanzones, and vegetables like chilies, cabbage, tomato, and eggplant, among others.
According to the lady lawmaker, she has also been authoring and sponsoring legislation to develop the industry and uplift the lives of Filipino farmers and shareholders.
She noted the former President Duterte's signing Republic Act No. 11524, or the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act."
The law created the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) which ensures the funding of P80-billion for the next five years. This will benefit 2.5 million coconut farmers and the coconut industry in general.
“The law also mandated for the preparation of the CFIDP, which shall set the directions and policies for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry within 50 years,” she added.
The utilization of the Trust Fund, she said, shall be in accordance with the formulated plan.
It shall also take into account the annual allocation of the Trust Fund provided for by the law, which is:
(a) Twenty percent for the development of hybrid coconut seed farms, and nursery for planting and replanting: 15 percent to be implemented by the PCA; and the five percent by the DOST-PCAARRD for research;
(b) Eight percent for the training of farmers and their families, to be implemented by ATI and TESDA;
(c) Five percent for research, marketing, and promotion, to be implemented by DTI;
(d) Four percent for Crop Insurance to be implemented by Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.;
(e) Ten percent for the Farm improvements through diversification and intercropping with livestock, dairy, poultry, coffee, and cacao production, to be implemented by BAI-DA; NDA and DA High Value Crop program.
(f) Ten percent for Shared facilities for processing, to be implemented by Philmech.;
(g) Five percent for the Organizing and empowerment of coconut farmer organizations and cooperatives, to be implemented by CDA;
(h) Ten percent for the Credit programs through DBP and LBP;
q(i) Ten percent for the Infrastructure Development, to be implemented by DPWH;
(j) Eight percent for the College Scholarship program for farmers and their families, to be implemented by CHED;
(k) Ten percent for Health and medical program for farmers and their families, to be implemented by PCA.
"This marked the fulfillment of ex-President Duterte’s promise to return the coco levy funds to their true and rightful owners – the coconut farmers," Villar pointed out.
The senator, also chairperson of the Senate committee on environment, took notice of the beautiful town of Dolores which lies on the foot of Mount Banahaw.
"You have beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls," she said.
According to Villar, she is confident that Dolores Mayor Orlan Calayag, who has a strong background in agriculture, would spur the development of the coconut industry.
"For Mayor Orlan, the slogan an “UNLAD Dolores” is not just a mere slogan but a commitment he intends to fulfill," she said.