Press Release - Transcript of Sen. Pia S. Cayetano's interview during the National Cacao Congress 2024 with Cebu media

Q: Kinikilala na po sa iba't ibang dako ng mundo ang PH chocolate. Ano pa ang maaari nating magawa upang makilala at masuportahan ang lumalaking industriya ng chocolate sa bansa? At ano po ang mga policy initiatives para maabot natin ang demand ng mga international buyers and traders?

Sen. Pia S. Cayetano: We have multiple government agencies that are involved in the cacao industry - DTI, DA, DOST. And during my talk, na-explain ko na yung job namin as legislators is to ensure that there is proper funding in these agencies kung magaganda naman ang mga programa. Sabi ko nga, huwag niyo ako gawing judge dun sa mga competition niyo because you have the private council, you have DTI and the other agencies that are implementing these programs. But we're more than happy.

Like in my case, ang dami kong nakitang products. I also want to be sure na when they're ready for the world stage, we can also support. Kasi mahirap din yun. Ayoko ng patsamba-tsamba. If there are the proper international events for them to attend, then let's give them that exposure. But they need to have products that are presentable to the world. They need to have proper packaging, proper storage. And that is what DOST, DTI, and all these other agencies can do for them. So let's prepare them. Like I said, parang karera lang yan. You have to prepare for that race. You want to be a world leader? You want to be a world competitor? Prepare.

Q: Senator, bilang Chairperson ng Blue Ribbon Committee, any update sa isinasagawang hearing tungkol sa pagkalat ng mga fake government documents?

Sen. Pia S. Cayetano: Yes. Actually, Monday, abangan niyo, next week, we have another hearing.

Obviously, yung mga lumalabas sa news the past few months na rin, talagang nakakatakot na there are really fake government identification documents - yung birth certificate, yung passports. So we will have continuing hearings about this to get to the bottom of it. Kasi may mga areas na parang sila yung hotspots. So gusto natin talagang ma-identify na ano nangyari doon? Sino ang mga responsible?

Now, to be clear, the Senate is not a law enforcement agency. The Senate, the Blue Ribbon in particular, can investigate in aid of