Sen. Villar Opines Alvarez’s ‘no-el’ plan costs him speakership

TANJAY CITY, Philippines —The much talked-about NOEL or “no elections” in 2019 could be one of the reasons why there's a change of leadership in Congress.

This was disclosed by Senator Cynthia Villar who was guest of honor during the eve of the fiesta celebration of Tanjay City on Tuesday upon the invitation of Mayor Reynaldo Concepcion.

In an interview, Villar said “no matter how bad, we have to have an election kasi parang nagkakaroon ng instability kapang walang election, iyun seguro ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit may change of leadership in the House.

She said “hindi na seguro nila nagugustohan ang mga nangyayari sa kongreso.” The lady senator has also observed that while some congressmen are given budgets, others don’t have. Villar said congressmen are elected by the people, and its not them that needs the budget but the people.

As a former congresswoman herself, Sen. Villar stressed they need projects for their respective constituencies, even the minority were given budgets.  As Filipinos, everybody benefits form the taxes collected from the people.

As to questions why of all the members of the house of representatives, Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was chosen as Speaker of the House,  Sen. Villar said “seguro naghanap din sila ng marunong na.”

Villar graced the Sinulog de Tanjay and the mock battle in honor of patron saint Sr. Santiago. She praised local chief executives who, in their own initiatives had helped promote tourism in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

She said every celebration is a good time for our children to know and appreciate our history, religious traditions and affiliations to them to continue the same in the next generation.

Villar also  encouraged Tanjayanons and negrenses alike to promote farm tourism to give additional income to our farmers and fisherfolks.  The law which she authored encourages farmers to make their farms as tourist destinations and convert the same into farm schools  so farmers will be taught good agricultural practices to be competitive and address poverty in teh agriculture sector.

It is also the dream of Sen. Villar to establish farm schools in every city or municipality to be supported by TESDA who is in charge of paying the tuition of farmers to improve production.