Legarda addresses health fund gap, urges passage of PhilHealth Automatic Funding Act

Senator Loren Legarda, in her privilege speech during the plenary session in the Senate on February 3, called for immediate reforms to close persistent funding gaps that undermine the Universal Health Care Act and leave millions of Filipinos exposed to catastrophic out-of-pocket medical costs.

“The fight for a just and equitable health system in the Philippines has never been easy. It is a race against time,” she said, stressing that the government must show moral courage to protect the sick and […]

Legarda lauds DOT for turning promotions into measurable sales leads; highlights emerging tourism gains

Senator Loren Legarda commended the Department of Tourism (DOT) for delivering clear, measurable market outcomes from its promotional efforts, citing record tourism receipts, strong domestic travel growth, and gains in emerging destinations during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Tourism, jointly held with the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, and Finance on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Legarda emphasized that these results reflect the value of sustained public […]

Legarda links Oplan: Talk Read to national drive for stronger early-grade learning

Senator Loren Legarda drew a clear connection between grassroots literacy efforts and her national push for stronger early-grade learning during the Oplan: Talk Read – Pagpupugay sa Tagumpay ng Pagbasa graduation ceremony in Caloocan on February 28.

She delivered her inspirational message praising the perseverance of learners, tutors, and educators while underscoring the urgency of addressing reading gaps revealed by Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

“Kapag marunong kang magbasa, parang binubuksan mo ang pinto sa napakaraming mundo. Mas marami kang […]

Legarda Backs DILG’s Anti‑Epal Policy, Calls for Enabling Law to End Political Credit-Grabbing

Senator Loren Legarda lauded the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for enforcing the nationwide removal of names, images, and likenesses of public officials from government‑funded projects, programs, and properties. She hailed the directive as a decisive step toward restoring integrity in governance and a reminder to public servants that public office is a trust, not a platform for self‑promotion.

“Public office is a public trust. Public funds are for public service, not for personal publicity,” Legarda declared as […]

Recalibrating growth: Legarda advocates for green, inclusive and value-driven development

Following the latest adjustments to the country’s economic outlook, Senator Loren Legarda urged a renewed examination of how the Philippines pursues growth and prepares for future challenges.

Recent data revealed that fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) grew by only 3 percent. This was the slowest quarterly expansion in nearly 15 years, excluding the pandemic. This brought the full-year expansion for 2025 to 4.4 percent, significantly missing the government’s target and marking the lowest annual growth rate since 2011.

In response, the Development […]