Co-Sponsorship Speech of Senator Loren Legarda for SBN 1981, under Committee Report No. 47 (Basic Education Voucher Program Act) | March 16, 2026

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues,

I rise to co-sponsor the Basic Voucher Education Act under Committee Report No. 47, which seeks to establish the Basic Education Voucher Program and strengthen government assistance to students and teachers in private basic education institutions.

Across the country, many public schools continue to struggle with overcrowded classrooms, limited facilities, and steadily increasing enrollment. In numerous communities, particularly in urban and rapidly growing areas, students are compelled to learn in congested conditions that strain teachers, classrooms, and learning […]

Co-Sponsorship Speech of Senator Legarda | Senate Bill No. 1982 – Automatic Suspension or Reduction of Excise Tax on Fuels | March 16, 2026

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues:

I rise today to co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 1982, which expressly grants the President to suspend the imposition of fuel excise taxes in times of extraordinary circumstances.

We are now experiencing an extraordinary circumstance. There is a rapid and continuous increase in fuel prices brought about by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. As we have seen time and again, this situation triggers a domino effect.

Kapag tumaas ang presyo ng petrolyo, bumubulusok din pataas ang presyo ng […]

Co-Sponsorship Speech of Senator Legarda | Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers | 25 February 2026

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues,

I rise today to sponsor the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, a measure that seeks to give long-overdue recognition, protection, and dignity to the individuals who form the most accessible arm of our public health system.

Barangay health workers are the first to knock on doors, the first to identify health risks, the first to guide mothers and children, and the first to respond to emergencies in communities where formal health facilities remain distant or limited.

According to […]

Privilege Speech of Senator Legarda | Strengthening the Foundations: The K to 3 Foundational Learning and Nurturing Care Act | February 25, 2026

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues.

Article XIV , Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution declares: “The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. “Section 2 further mandates the State to “establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society.”

These constitutional provisions define how a Republic worthy of its people […]

Sponsorship Speech of Senator LegardaSenate Bill No. 1894: An Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Amending Republic Act No. 10931 | February 24, 2026

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues:

It is my distinct privilege to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1894, a measure that strengthens Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

We are a nation that tells its children: Ang edukasyon ang pinakadakilang daan tungo sa pagkakapantay-pantay.

When we enacted this landmark law in 2017, we believed with full conviction that we were building the most consequential social investment of our generation. We were reaching into the lives of the […]