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Senator Cynthia Villar has decided to participate the Senate sessions through teleconferencing to keep her safe from the threats of COVID-19. Villar made the decision in a statement she released on May 3, one day before the Senate resumes its session today, May 4. Her full statement: "I will not be attending sessions physically, but I will participate in Senate proceedings through teleconferencing; "Manny and I are staying at home to be safe. Through the help of our faithful staff, who are living with us temporarily, I have been doing my work continuously. And Manny is managing our business online. I can take the risk, but Manny cannot. He is managing a very big organization with thousands of employees and workers. The companies need him because of a predicted economic recession; "We have experienced recessions in 1983 and 1997. Like before, Manny has to manage the business to overcome the present challenges; "There are people like us who can opt to ...

Sen. Cynthia Villar sent sacks of rice to provide relief to fire victims of Bgy. 105, Tondo. More than 200 families were affected by the fire and are now staying in evacuation areas. Villar said the victims should be provided assistance as they also struggle to cope with extended community quarantine (ECQ) measures.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar led the celebration of the  Zero Waste Month and the 1st anniversary of the Battle of Manila Bay at the Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park. Mrs. Villar was joined by Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) President Crispian Lao, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim and Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (NCR) Executive Director Jaquie Caancan. The event was sponsored by the Villar SIPAG in partnership with Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS,  DENR Environmental Management Bureau, DENR Solid Waste Management and LGU concerns, Manila Bay Coordinating Office, National Solid Waste Management Commission, DPWH, MMDA, PNP- Maritime Group, Philippine Navy,  Philippine Coast Guard – Marine Environmental Protection Manila Bay Sun...

Traffic in major thoroughfares in Las Piñas and neighboring towns and cities is expected to ease in time for the holiday season as the second phase of the Las Piñas and fourth phase of the Zapote River Drives road projects were opened to motorists. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and daughter Camille Villar led the inauguration of the partially completed Phase 2 of the Las Piñas River Drive, a 600-meter road connecting the CAA Bridge to Manuela 4B. VILLAR SAYS ROAD PROJECTS TO EASE TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK. Senator Cynthia Villar and daughter Camille Villar together with Las Pinas government officials and homeowners of private properties in the city tour the second phase of the Las Piñas and fourth phase of the Zapote River Drives road projects which were opened to motorists.  It will pass through the Villanueva, Dela Cruz and Batibot compounds, through the Daimar Subdivision and end at Manuela 4B. Once completed, the entire 1.2 kilometers Phase 2 of the road project will cover the foo...

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar believes urban vegetable gardening is the right community response to the high cost of commodities, especially food products, to ensure food-sufficiency among families. Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said families should learn to practice urban gardening so they can produce their own greens and vegetables and save hard-earned incomes for other basic needs. "Inflation is high. Everything is so expensive now, especially our food products. Vegetables are among the food produce the cost of which have gone considerably up. But we can counter this. Urban gardening is possible even in the most crowded areas. You should seriously consider this new norm to ensure not only food on your tables, but the health of your family as well," Villar told an audience of 180 farmers and farm enthusiasts and hobbyists who attended the graduation and Harvest Festival training in Urban Vegetable Farming at the Villar S...

Senator Cynthia A. Villar led coast lovers and environmental warriors in picking debris and garbage littering the stretch of the 175-hectares Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) in celebration of this year's International Coastal Clean-Up Day. Villar was quick to shed off her working clothes and put on her gloves as she joined some 1,352 volunteers clean up trash in the 20 stations set up within the Las Pinas Paranaque Wetland Park, one of Ramsar Convention’s Wetlands of International Importance. Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said the public’s cooperation in the mission to protect and conserve the environment is amply reflected in this year's theme of the International Coastal Clean-up Day, which is “Tayo ang Solusyon sa Polusyon.”  "I am happy to see so many volunteer cleaners this morning! The high number of volunteers for this cleanup drive is a testament to the gr...

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has underscored the pressing need to end the prevalent problem of plastic pollution all over the country, as she highlighted the worsening threat of plastic waste leakages to the country’s wildlife and marine resources. Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, rallied for expanded national efforts to dramatically reduce, if not totally stop, plastic use as an initial solution to end plastic waste pollution throughout the country, especially in urban areas where plastic products are regularly used as packaging materials. ‘The use of plastic products over the years has taken its grim toll on our natural resources. Our marine waters are choking from plastic wastes that have been dumped into our waters. We are ranked third next to China and Indonesia in terms of estimated volume of mismanaged plastic wastes produced by the population that could potentially enter the seas and oceans,’ Villar lamented e...

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has rabidly pushed for continuing government commitment and a more extensive public participation in the conservation of natural wetlands in the country, as she led other environmental champions in the observance of the 2018 World Wetlands Day held at the Las Pinas Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) or also known as Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park.  “We are all environment warriors with a common end-goal: to protect and conserve our environmental jewels. In the worldwide vision where green technology and urban development become twin partners, the Philippines and its leaders should and must learn to adapt to international efforts so we can grow alongside the world and not be left behind,” Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said during the short program which preceded a clean-up activity that kicked off the local observance of the international celebration, which has...

Senator Cynthia Villar led the inauguration of the 4th phase of the Zapote River Drive road project, which is projected to cut the travel time to and from the city of Las Pinas by 60 percent, and at the same time address flooding concerns plaguing the city government. Villar was joined by DPWH Sec. Mark Villar, Mayor Imelda Aguilar, other local government and barangay officials, and homeowners of different subdivisions in Las Pinas. “We would like to thank the DPWH for swiftly addressing our concerns of traffic and constant flooding in Las Pinas through this project. Through this new road, we are certain of a shorter and a more convenient travel time for the people of Las Pinas and for all those who travel to and from our city. More importantly, this new road and other road infrastructure developments will make Las Pinas more attractive to investors,” the senator said. She likewise expressed confidence the road project will reduce, if not totally stop, incidents of floodin...

Senator Cynthia A. Villar graced the drum and lyre competition participated in by students coming from 14 public schools in Las Pinas City. The Zapote Elementary School was declared as Grand Champion which received P30,000 cash while Almanza Elementary School and CAA Elementary School won second and third place, receiving P20,000 and P15,000 cash reward, respectively. Consolation prizes of P5,000 were also handed out. The competition was held after the kick off of the two-day 4th Las Pinas River Festival.

True to her mission to promote sustainable livelihood especially in communities that need it the most, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, together with representatives of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Soil and Water Management, Metro Manila Development Authority under its Chairman Danny Lim, and Department of Public Works and Highways  led another livelihood and clean-up caravan in Baseco, Tondo on February 7. Villar, chairman of the Senate Committees in Agriculture and Food and Environment and Natural Resources and Director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) said that this is part of her commitment to provide livelihood opportunities to help improve the lives of Filipinos and empower them to become productive contributors to the country’s economy. “I have always believed that Filipinos are hardworking people. They only need the opportunity, the encourag...

Sen. Cynthia Villar lauded the flourishing partnership between private and public organizations to clean and protect Manila Bay on the occasion of the celebration of January as Zero Waste Month. Villar, chairperson of the committee on environment and natural resources, made this statement during the clean-up activity of the Manila Bay Sunset Partnership Program Inc. (MBSPPI) at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park. “Obviously, our waste problem has reached alarming levels that government efforts are not enough to clear our coastal areas of plastic debris. This now calls for a concerted effort between public and private organizations to significantly reduce wastes,” Villar said. Villar also cited a University of Georgia study showing that the Philippines ranked third, next to China and Indonesia, among 192 countries surveyed, in terms of estimated volume of mismanaged plastic wastes that could potentially enter the bodies of water. She commended MBSPPI for conducting ...

Senator Cynthia Villar commended the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the launching of a program that will make passport applications more accessible to Filipinos. Passport on Wheels (POW), which was initiated by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, was launched at Villar SIPAG in Las Pinas and served about 1,500 applicants. “The reforms we are now seeing at DFA such as the opening of more appointment slots and this POW project seek to address concerns about passport applications and consular services to Filipinos,” Villar said. Villar, who was guest of honor during the event, was principal sponsor of Republic Act 10928 or the law extending to 10 years the validity of passports in her capacity as then vice chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations. The law amended Section 10 of Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 extending the validity of regular passports from five years to a period of 10 years. For individuals under 18 years of a...

Christmas came early for soldiers who risked their lives in Marawi City after they were honored on the popular game show "Wowowin" on GMA 7 last Oct. 26-27. Senator Cynthia Villar, retired Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff and incoming Local Government Undersecretary Gen. Eduardo Ano and game show host Willie Revillame led the program in paying tribute to the brave Filipino soldiers. Three lucky soldiers in the studio went home with house and lot courtesy of Bria Homes, which were donated by Senator Villar. They are Piccolo Dela Cruz, of Malabon; Fernando Julian, Pangasinan; and Jesus Pancho III, General Trias, Cavite. They went home with certificates to their new house and lot. "On behalf of our family, makakaasa kayo na we will be very supportive of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Nagpapasalamat po kami kay Willie Revillame at sa kanilang 'Wowowin.' Sila ang nagbigay ng opportunity sa amin para ipakita sa inyo ang aming supor...