crazywin Villar scolds BFAR exec over feed mill plant project in Iloilo town

FILE PHOTO: Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture. – Villar berated an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Fisheries (BFAR) on Monday, January 20, 2025, for allowing the establishment of a government-funded feed mill plant inside a private property in Iloilo province. Screengrab from Senate Youtube

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar berated an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Fisheries (BFAR) for allowing the establishment of a government-funded feed mill plant inside a private property in Iloilo.

Villar revealed during a hearing of her panel, the Senate committee on agriculture, on Monday that a P30-million aquaculture feed mill plant is being built on the land of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (Seafdec) in Tigbauan town.

trp live slot Article continues after this advertisement

The senator, who presided over the hearing, was reviewing the list of existing feed mills as it tackled Senate Bill No. 2417, which proposes the establishment of a similar feed mill plant in Barangay Bahit, Panay, also in Iloilo province.

READ: Villar walks out, tells NDA, PCC execs: Don’t make me mad; you’re fooling me

Article continues after this advertisement

Villar noted the challenges being faced by the Tagbilaran feed mill plant project that would be erected inside Seafdec’s office complex – which irked Villar, pointing out that it seemed government funds supported a private company instead of the fisherfolk.

Article continues after this advertisement

“So, it was Seafdec who got financed, not the fishermen in their area. Why in Seafdec? If you want to build it at Seafdec, they should spend [it], not us. Isn’t [the funds] for the fishermen?” Villar said in mixed Filipino and English.

Article continues after this advertisement

She also questioned BFAR for opting to construct the feed mill plant inside private property and not on government property.

To this, BFAR Western Visayas Director Remia Aparri reasoned that Seafdec will be able to assist fisherfolk in the municipality since its office is also located in Tigbauan.

In a press briefing in Pasay on Tuesday, Jussi Hoikka, Airbus chief representative to the Philippines, said Airbus was offering the H225M helicopter, a multirole vehicle that can be used also for tactical transport, medical evacuation, and special operations.

“The delay was caused by force majeure,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, pointing out that several storms and weather disturbances, including recent typhoons, stalled the release of imported agricultural goods.

Article continues after this advertisement

She also asserted that the management of the plant would be under the partnership of Seafdec and the government.

READ: Aboitiz opens largest feed mill in Yunnan

Villar, however, was not buying it.

“Why would you build at Seafdec and manage it with Seafdec. You should be the one managing it together with the local government. Like in fish hatcheries, BFAR initially manages in the first two years and thereafter, it is turned over to the local government,” the senator retorted in mixed Filipino and English.

“Stop. I am not a fool,” she added.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Villar also expressed concern that the BFAR official would do the same to the aquaculture feed mill plant project proposed under SB No. 2417.

Due to this, Villar ordered the technical working group to revise the proposed measure to ensure that once the feed mill plant has been establishedcrazywin, the BFAR would solely manage the facility for the first two years and turn it over to the local government unit after the period.

READ NEXT 5 drug suspects nabbed with P2.7-M shabu in Rizal Acop scolds slain Pampanga brgy captain’s wife for not a... EDITORS' PICK Fuel price hike: Diesel up P2.70/L, gasoline P1.65/L starting Jan 21 TikTok restores service in US, thanking Trump Fil-Am leader postpones oath of office to focus on LA fire relief efforts Marcos says Duterte lying for claiming 2025 GAA has ‘blank’ items Darryl Yap bares Pepsi Paloma’s close bond with Charito Solis Trump vows to end 'American decline' at inauguration eve rally MOST READ Sandigan finds former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista guilty of graft Chavit Singson retires after withdrawing Senate bid for health reasons Darryl Yap bares Pepsi Paloma's close bond with Charito Solis Chinese engineer, 2 Filipinos nabbed for espionage targeting PH security Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments