By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar yesterday proposed taxing the entry of imported rice in order to protect local farmers.
Villar, who attended the PDP-Laban campaign rally at the Victorias City Coliseum, said taxes collected from imported rice would be given to local farmers in order to keep them competitive.
The senator also proposed mechanizing local rice farmers and teaching them better seed production methods in order to double harvest.
She also said some of the collected funds could also be given to the Landbank of the Philippines or Development Bank of the Philippines in order to provide loans for farmers at a low interest rate.
Villar added, funds could also be given to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in order to train farmers in mechanization and seed production./DGB, WDJ