Villar aims to generate jobs in agri, manufacturing sectors

CEBU, Philippines - If given a chance to sit as a Senator of the Philippines after the May 2012 elections, Cynthia Villar promised to boost the country’s employment opportunity, by revisiting the laws and policies governing the incentives and requirements under the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

Villar, who was in Cebu recently, said that providing employment in the mainstream level is one of the ways Filipinos will be able to enjoy the good economic state of the country.

“Tax incentives for manufacturing investments should be reviewed. Our current laws in manufacturing is somehow obsolete,” said Villar, who is also currently the president of Villar Foundation, under the publicly listed company Vista Land Landscape Inc.

Villar believes that the Philippines has huge potential to re-capture the manufacturing sector, which we lost from other countries like China, in the last few years. However, an immediate review of the governing laws in manufacturing should be addressed seriously.

Likewise, Villar vowed to be very active in the agricultural sector in the country, expressing confidence that the agriculture sector will be able to generate more revenues for the Philippines if given good budget and effective programs, while helping millions of farmers.

“I would like to also re-visit the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act,” said Villar emphasizing that the Philippines should subsidize agriculture in order for farmers to be competitive.

She said the government will help the critical, yet potential sectors in the country, such as manufacturing, agriculture (and fisheries , employment and livelihood opportunity will  be well distributed, not only to those that have good educational attainment.

“Seventy percent of our farmers are poor. They have to get help from the government. And subsidizing them is one of the mechanisms that will make them world-class players in the agriculture sector,” said Villar in a press conference, on her plans to support the country’ bid to become one of the “tiger economies to watch out for in Asia.”

Empowering the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) is also very important factor that could help bolster the country’s economy. She said SMEs should also be given incentives from the government, as they are the largest employment generators in the Philippines.

Recognizing the contribution of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the Philippine economy, Villar is up to pushing the creation of Department of OFWs, in order to have a dedicated agency to over-see the concerns and development of growing number of Filipinos going abroad to work.

On the other hand, she said that although the Philippines needs more economic zones in order to lure more manufacturing investments, there is no need for a province for instance, to become a province-wide economic zone.

Villar made this statement, when asked her view on the pending application of Cebu becoming province-wide economic zone, to accelerate manufacturing related investments.

According to Villar, zoning is still important in establishing economic zone areas. This means that a province does’nt need to become an economic zone (as a whole), but it only has to designate areas for this purpose.

At present, Villar is promoting also her advocacy in providing livelihood and employment through her program “Hanep Buhay,” giving livelihood training mostly for women in making recyclable waste into commercial products, such as bags, among others.