Early morning exercise HOT PANDESAL, HOT COFFEE, HOT SERMON, LOTS OF WORK By Manny Piñol

My day usually starts at 4 a.m. when I would go over documents and papers submitted for my signature and approval.

I really have to go over all the papers before I sign these because I have to be very careful that I do not get into trouble, especially with transactions involving hundreds of millions and even billions.

Today was rather different.

I had to wake up early to review the National Livestock and Dairy Development Program which will be presented to the Senate Finance Committee this afternoon during the continuation of the budget hearing which was deferred last week.

Agriculture Committee Chairperson Cynthia Villar, who presided over the budget hearing last week, asked that a bigger budget be allocated to Livestock and Dairy, bigger than the Dept. of Budget Management approved P2.7-B.

Actually, the original budget proposal for Livestock and Dairy was P18-B but this was slashed to only P2.7-B by DBM.

So this morning, I had to summon Livestock Assistant Secretary Enrico Garzon, PRDP National Head Cirilo Namoc and my long-time staff, John Pagaduan, to review the project proposal to be presented to the Senate today.

The result if a P4.9-B proposed program which aims to increase the country’s cattle population from 2.5-M today to 5-million by the end of the term of President Rody Duterte.

The Dairy Program also aims to increase the milk production of local dairy farmers from 1% to 10% of the national requirement.

It also aims to establish local feed mills to support the development of the backyard hog industry.

This is a classic example of the early bird catching the early sermon and lecture.

At least, there are consolations – hot pandesal and hot coffee.

#NganongNiEnter! #TrabahoWalangReklamo! #SecretToSucessFocusFocusFocus!

(Stolen photo by John Pagaduan)