Legarda pushes for preservation of cultural legacies

This National Heritage Month, Senate Committee on Culture and Arts Chairperson Senator Loren Legarda called on the country to espouse each Filipino’s shared responsibility to help preserve cultural legacies.

“It is a perfect time to pay homage to the rich legacy of the Filipino people, for our forebearers have given us countless traditions in various forms that we could be proud of,” Legarda said.

“The month of May reminds us that our past is something that is not to be ignored, and […]

Legarda urges prioritization of foundational learning after 18.9 million graduates found functionally illiterate

Senator Loren Legarda, Commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), urged immediate attention to strengthening learners’ foundational competencies following data showing that 18.9 million Filipinos who graduated from the country’s basic education system between 2019 and 2024 are “functionally illiterate.”

This finding was revealed during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, chaired by Senator and EDCOM II Co-Chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian, based on the presentation of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) regarding the preliminary results […]

A nation’s progress must reach the workers’ table, says Legarda on Labor Day

As the nation marks Labor Day, Senator Loren Legarda emphasizes the need to ensure that the gains of national progress are felt where they matter most: on the tables of every Filipino worker, at home and abroad.

“Our workers are more than resilient. They are creative, adaptable, and relentless in their pursuit of a better life. It is through their tireless efforts that our nation stands, innovates, and grows,” said Legarda in recognizing the vital contributions of Filipino workers in the […]

Championing roots and rights: Legarda hailed as Intellectual Property Defender

In celebration of National Intellectual Property Month, Senator Loren Legarda was honored with the Intellectual Property Champion Award during the Gawad Yamang Isip 2025 ceremonies organized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) this 25 April 2025.

Recognized for her steadfast advocacy in protecting traditional knowledge, indigenous peoples’ rights, and Filipino creativity, Legarda was hailed as a defender of intellectual property and cultural heritage.

Legarda expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed her advocacy for indigenous communities:

“This recognition is, above all, a […]

Legarda urges protection of artisanal fishers in 15-km municipal water zones

Senator Loren Legarda called for the protection and empowerment of small-scale fishers, emphasizing the urgent need to uphold their rights, livelihoods, and the safeguarding of the country’s marine resources amid growing concerns over the possible entry of commercial fishing into the 15-km municipal water zones traditionally reserved for artisanal fishers.

“No less than the 1987 Constitution guarantees the protection of the rights of subsistence fisherfolk, especially of local communities, to the preferential use of communal marine and fishing resources,” Legarda stated. […]