Villar seeks progress report on completion of coco farmers registry

Senator Cynthia Villar on Thursday joined her colleagues, Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros, in seeking a progress report on the registration of coconut farmers who stand to benefit from the Coconut Farmers’ Industry Trust Fund Act.

“The primary consideration for which we are gathered here now though is the call of Senators Pangilinan and Hontiveros as to the status of the completion of the Coconut Farmers Registry System,” the chair of the Senate agriculture committee said.

“I join Senators Pangilinan and Hontiveros over their concern on this matter as this is very crucial to the success of the law. And through this hearing I wish that we will all be apprised of the developments and also see which areas would need for improvements,” Villar said at the Senate hearing.

With the passage of the coconut farmers’ trust fund law, “all our coconut farmers are positively and critically looking at the implementation of the law, to ensure that the actual beneficiaries of this this law truly receive what they are entitled to,” she said.

Under RA 11524, “our coconut farmers will finally receive what is due them and would be our frontrunners in developing the potential of the country’s coconut sector,” Villar said.

The Presidential Commission of Good Governance (PCGG) reported that the estimated aggregate market value, of cash and non-cash assets, excluding those still subject litigation, of the coconut levy assets amount to P113.888 billion.

To address the problem of lack of access to medical and health benefits, 10 percent of the annual fund shall be used for the support of a health and medical program that will be established for our coconut farmers and their families by the PCA by creating an office for this, Villar said.

“But, prior to all these, it is crucial to know who are our beneficiaries under the law,” she said.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)