'May doctorate degree ka, wala kang common sense?' Villar raps BAI exec over importation policy | ABS-CBN

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'May doctorate degree ka, wala kang common sense?' Villar raps BAI exec over importation policy

'May doctorate degree ka, wala kang common sense?' Villar raps BAI exec over importation policy

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel and Robert Mano,

ABS-CBN News

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Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform. Joseph Vidal, Senate PRIB
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform. Joseph Vidal, Senate PRIB

MANILA — Sen. Cynthia Villar on Monday scolded and berated officials of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) over its supposed "excessive" importation of meat despite adequate supply in the country.

During the hearing of Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, Villar cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing that for the past 3 years, local pork production is sufficient to the market's demand.

"BAI, ikaw ang nag-issue ng importation, pano ka nag-i-issue ng importation?" she asked.

According to BAI, their office only approves importation requests and has no control on its frequency and volume.

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"Madam Chair, yung importation kasi ang client po ang nagla-lodge so wala po kaming direct control kung gaano karami o gano po ka-frequent," BAI officer-in-charge Paul Limson explained.

Villar, however, was irked by the agency's answer.

"I just want to ask the director of the BAI. Sino nagturo sa'yo na basta mag-iimport kung may gusto mag-import? Wala kang pakialam, mag-iissue ka ng import permit. Sino nagturo niyan sayo? Ngayon ko lang nadinig yan," the senator said.

Limson said the policy was already in place when he was appointed to the BAI last year. "Inabot ko na lang po ang sistema na yan," he said.

Villar found Limson's answer unacceptable and further criticized the official.

"Di ba common sense yon? Bakit ganyan ang mentality mo? Wag kang gaganyan sa akin. Bakit mo tinanggap ang posisyon hindi mo pala mahal ang livestock industry ng Pilipinas? May doctorate degree ka, wala kang common sense?" she said.

The senator also demanded the BAI officials' resignation.

"Ngayon ko lang nalaman na pag pala gusto nila mag-import kahit na sobra ang local production pwede mag-import... Pano ang gagawin mo dun sa ating local farmer... Dapat mag-resign na kayo kung gaganyanin ninyo ang farmer sa Pilipinas," she added.


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DICT open to talks with telcos on Konektadong Pinoy Bill concerns

DICT open to talks with telcos on Konektadong Pinoy Bill concerns

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday said it is open to holding dialogues with telco operators to address their concerns about the Konektadong Pinoy bill. 

The measure, which was passed on third and final reading at the Senate earlier this month, seeks to boost internet connectivity in the Philippines by making it easier for new industry players, foreign and local, to enter the market and develop critical infrastructure across the country.

But in a statement, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) said that some provisions, particularly the removal of the congressional franchise requirement for data transmission providers, undermine constitutional provisions and fair competition principles. 

“Further, the removal of the franchise and CPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) requirements eliminates crucial safeguards that protect public interest by ensuring that telecommunications providers meet specific standards and obligations in order to provide quality and reliable services. It may also compromise national security by granting access to critical infrastructure to potentially unregulated entities, both foreign and domestic,” it added. 

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Speaking to the media at the sidelines of a Telco Forum organized by the Anti-Red Tape Authority, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy noted that data transmission players would still have to secure a franchise from the National Telecommunications Commission. 

Meanwhile, a group of small telco players such as those operating in the provinces also expressed fears of being displaced with the influx of new players.

Dy said the DICT is willing to hear them out in person.

“DICT is willing to dialogue with them. Have your position paper sent to us or to my office, to the Secretary… May IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) pa naman. Minsan the devil is in the details. If the IRR is foolproof then we’ll be able to protect them,” he said.

For Dy, the bill could even be beneficial to them.

“What we’re confident is that we can bring down the price of the internet. And I’m sure that the small players, yung mga nandodoon sa probinsiya, the cable TV operators— they’re also looking forward to smaller and cheaper cost of wholesale bandwidth. Sa ngayon kasi wala silang masyadong options,” he said.

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