Inday Loren Continues to Forward Health, Education and Livelihood of Antiqueños

The health, education and livelihood of her kasimanwas have always been among the priorities of Senator “Inday Loren” Legarda, manifested through various projects such as the University of Antique (UA) Technology and Livelihood Support Hub (Techno Hub), a program under the Department of Science and Technology’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology Program (DOST- CEST), which was funded in 2017 through Legarda’s initiative.

The UA Techno Hub has since expanded and upgraded, providing more Antiqueño students the opportunity to master their skills in food production. Students based in the UA – Main Campus focus on the production of rice- and grains-based products, such as Rice Mongo Curls, Rice Mongo Crunchies, Rice Mongo Polvoron, and Rice Mongo Baby Food Blend.

Meanwhile, students based in the UA Hamtic Campus are into processing of dairy products, such as ice cream, milk bars, and milk drinks. The milk used in the processing of dairy products come from the cows given by the National Dairy Authority (NDA) in Tobias Fornier, again through the Senator’s initiative.

On the other hand, the project has fed more children in Antique with nutritional food as the products are intended for the feeding of malnourished children in the province, especially in the municipalities of Tibiao, Culasi, Valderrama, Patnongon, and Hamtic, where the highest prevalence of malnutrition have been recorded.

Everyday for 120 days, barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars are given supply, which are distributed among identified malnourished children in the province.

“We will improve the lives of all Antiqueños by addressing the concerns in health, education and livelihood. The DOST-CEST has been very helpful by not only addressing malnutrition and improving livelihoods, but also in involving the community, including students, in carrying out these programs. I have ensured that all municipalities are covered by various programs of DOST-CEST,” Legarda said.

“We have provided for the many needs of Antiqueños and we will do more. Our people will progress together with our province,” Legarda concluded.