Reelected Senator Cynthia Villar was among the awardees at Rotary Club of Manila’s (RCM) 15th Tourism Awards held at the New World Hotel in Makati City.
The RCM headed by president Jesus Pineda and Director Bobby Joseph, recognized Villar for “the development and promotion of farm tourism which led to the promotion of economic growth of the Philippines and attracted local tourism.”
The seasoned legislator was also credited for support extended to agriculture, and as “Mrs. Hanep Buhay” who crafted laws that protected the livelihood of farmers and fishermen.
“Villar’s development and promotion of farm tourism led to the promotion of economic growth of the Philippines and attracted local tourism.”
After receiving the award, the veteran lawmaker shared to Rotarians how she really asked for the two committees–Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources–to be given to her to support her advocacies for sustainability and poverty reduction.
“It is so ironic that the farmers and fisherfolks who feed us cannot feed their own families. That is why I made it a point to craft measures that will increase the profitability of agriculture and ensure food security,” the lady senator said.
“It is so ironic that the farmers and fisherfolks who feed us cannot feed their own families.”
Villar said she authored Republic Act 10816 or the Farm Tourism Law, which enabled small farmers to earn additional incomes by converting their farms into tourist farms and learning sites. When the law was passed in 2014, there are 300 farm schools which grew to 1,855 at present.
She also shared how she succeeded in protecting the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park, a declared Wetland of International Importance, an ecotourism site from the threat of reclamation.
Villar sponsored RA 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, which gives permanent protection to the wetland area.