Livestock raisers endorse Creba

Five major organizations of livestock raisers yesterday endorsed the party list bid of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA).

In a joint statement, the Nation Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHF), Philippine Association of Hog Raisers (PAHRI), Rizal Hog Raisers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (RHRMC), United Quezon Hog Farmers Association (UQHFA) and United Swine Producers Association (UPSPA) urged all their members nationwide to actively campaign and vote for CREBA for the party list.

In a press statement, the industry leaders said CREBA is the only party list aspirant that has a definite legislative agenda of concrete measures, designed not only to solve the critical housing problem but also to pump-prime the ailing economy and uplift the living conditions of the masses.

They said, CREBA’s plan to push a legislated cap on interest rates and at the same time arise minimum wages borrowing costs would significantly cut production costs and meat prices, while increased wages would stimulate greater consumer demand for meat products.

Soledad Agbayani, PAHRI president, said CREBA’s number one nominee to the Party List is Manuel Serrano, long-time PAHRI chairman and recognized leader not only of the housing sector but also of the livestock industry.

Agbayani recalled that it was Serrano who successfully led the industry’s fight against the DAR’s inclusion of livestock farms in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), culminating in the Supreme Court decision declaring that under the Constitution these farms are excluded from the CARP.

Serrano also led the fight for the duty-free importation of livestock feed ingredients, which is vital in stabilizing the price of meat in the local markets, Agbayani added.

Hailing the livestock raisers endorsement, CREBA leaders said that while party list representatives are committed to pursue in Congress the specific concerns of their sectors, however, they are also expected under the Party List Law to pursue legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole.