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            Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), has set up an aquaponics facility to benefit a community in Las Piñas, where the senator has also put up a vegetable garden.           Urban aquaponics is part of BFAR’s Fisheries Resiliency Projects to address food-related challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Aquaponics or hydroponics is a way of growing vegetables without soil and at the same time growing fish in the same setup as well.           “It is really time for city dwellers to grow their own food even in an urban setting with limited space. Food self-sufficiency is very important especially during disasters or emergencies such as the ongoing pandemic,” said Villar, who has been advocating urban farming to beat food poverty.           The urban aquaponics an...

FISH farmers need to learn the ropes on responsible and sustainable aquaculture to ensure abundant fish production meet rapidly growing fish demand all over the country and address food security, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar said. Villar noted the speedy expansion of the aquaculture industry has compounding environmental problems caused by climate change, callous governance and irresponsible fish farming practices. "Aquaculture, or fish farming, is essential in the government's poverty and food security campaign. It is important that we ensure aquaculture sustainability so we can continuously meet the fish demand of our country's growing population," said Villar, who is the chairperson of two key Senate panels - the committees on agriculture and food security, and the  environment and natural resources. In 2017, aquaculture registered 2.24 million metric tons. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed seaweed harvests accelerated in Sulu and Tawi-T...

Senator Cynthia A. Villar has reiterated the value of personal hygiene and sanitation to improve self-sufficiency and the earning opportunities of individuals and communities. "One’s capacity to earn is enhanced when care and attention are given to his personal hygiene. Employees who come to work fresh and clean are usually healthier and perform their jobs more efficiently as compared to those who go to work looking and smelling grumpy," said Villar, the chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources. Villar said personal hygiene starts at home, and making sure that homes and communities have proper sanitation facilities is the joint responsibility of families, communities and the government. ‘The government has the duty to ensure the health of its people. The most basic way to guarantee this is through the provision of sanitation facilities such as septic tanks, especially in overcrowded communities,’ Villar said. To set an example...