Villar bids Senate farewell

Senator Cynthia Villar delivered her valedictory speech on Wednesday, capping a 12-year Senate career marked by reforms in agriculture, rural development and environmental protection.

Senator JV Ejercito opened the tribute to Villar, who chaired two of the most consequential and relevant committees in recent years — Agriculture and Food, and Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change.

In her remarks, Villar recalled the day she first entered the chamber.

“Twelve years ago, I entered the halls of the Senate with the clear intention to serve with integrity and use the knowledge I had to make a difference — especially to uplift the lives of those who need it most,” Villar said.

“I wanted to use my experience to improve the quality of life of our fellow Filipinos, especially our farmers who feed the nation but too often remain deprived of support and opportunity.”

As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Villar championed various laws aimed at empowering the agriculture sector. Among these were Republic Act 10654, which combats illegal and unreported fishing; RA 10659, or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act; and RA 10816, the Farm Tourism Development Act.

She also authored the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 (RA 10845), which was recently strengthened by the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act of 2024 (RA 12022), and the Free Irrigation Service Act (RA 10969).

Her most controversial yet impactful measure was the Rice Tariffication Law (RA 11203), which liberalized rice importation while establishing the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

Villar said the law was “enhanced by RA 12078,” which ensured continued support for local rice farmers through the distribution of seeds, machinery, credit access and training.

Villar also pushed for reforms in organic farming through RA 11511, introducing the participatory guarantee system to help smallholder farmers certify their produce.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Environment, Villar helped expand the country’s protected areas and authored the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 — a landmark law that compels manufacturers to recover and recycle their plastic waste as part of a shift toward a circular economy.

“We passed additional specific protected area laws. We also championed the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which institutionalized accountability in the use of plastic packaging,” she said. “This law encourages us to change how we view waste — to repurpose instead of simply discard.”`

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Villar participated in crafting the Bayanihan Laws, which provided emergency subsidies, supported the health sector, and ensured the continuity of the food supply chain.

The senator expressed her deep gratitude to her colleagues and staff for the work they accomplished together.

“I had the privilege of working with five Senate Presidents — Franklin Drilon, Koko Pimentel, Tito Sotto, Migz Zubiri and Chiz Escudero. Thank you for your leadership,” she said.

She also thanked her fellow senators, the Senate Secretariat, and her technical team.

Nicknamed “Mama Bear” by her Senate peers, Villar said she took the title to heart.

“In this chamber, you fondly called me ‘Mama Bear’ — a simple moniker but one I took to heart. To be Mama Bear meant being fiercely protective, genuinely caring, and always dependable,” Villar said. “I saw it as a gesture of trust and respect — and a reminder to always show up, give my best, and look out for those around me.”

Though her term is ending, Villar assured that her commitment to public service remains.

“Public service does not end when the term does,” she said in Filipino. “Hindi natatapos ang paglilingkod sa pagtatapos ng termino.”