Inday Loren Relaunches ‘LOREN sa Bawat Barangay’ in Antique

Senator “Inday Loren” Legarda has relaunched her “LOREN sa Bawat Barangay” project in her home province of Antique, featuring more and improved services.

LOREN, which means Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Employment Nationwide, was introduced by Legarda when she first ran during the 1998 senatorial elections, which she topped. Its aim is to consult various sectors of society and concerned local government agencies on how to create more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the people.

On Friday, Legarda relaunched “LOREN sa Bawat Barangay” in Antique not only to consult with the people but also to ensure that government programs reach every barangay in the province.

“When I ran in 1998, I introduced ‘LOREN sa Bawat Barangay’ as a way for me to reach out to our people and understand their needs. Twenty years later, we already have the laws that aim to provide employment and livelihood opportunities. These laws which I authored include the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Barangay Kabuhayan Act, the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act, Tropical Fabrics Law, and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act,” said the three-term senator.

“Now, I bring it again to all the 590 barangays in my home province of Antique to check if these laws are being implemented and if government support reaches them because, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, I ensure that these laws, as well as programs of government for jobs creation and livelihood support, are funded,” she added.

Legarda, who is running as representative of the lone district of Antique, said that she will ensure that all Antiqueños who want to have livelihood will be given.

There are programs under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) like Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), and Barangay Kabuhayan Skills Training Program; under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) there is Pangkabuhayan Program (Sari – Sari Store, Salon and Rice Trading), as well as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD); Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Community Empowerment Through Science and Technology (CEST) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); and the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“We have given fiber glass boats, post-harvest facilities and community fish landing centers with cold storage facility for our fisherfolks; we have breeding stock for dairy farmers; we have weaving centers, fiber and dye processing centers; we have provided support to various MSMEs. We will continue to give more and as we do so, we want to make sure that no one is left behind. Through the ‘LOREN sa Bawat Barangay’ project, we ask our barangay leaders and municipal officials to map families and match the livelihood program suitable for each family in the community,” she said.

Legarda explained that “LOREN sa Bawat Barangay” is not only limited to employment and livelihood but also access to quality education and health care services, stressing that a progressive community is one that is also literate and healthy.

“For education, students can now finish tertiary education for free under state universities and colleges (SUCs), local state universities and colleges (LUCs), and state-run technical vocational institutions (TVIs); and for other educational expenses not covered by the free college education law, students may avail of the Tulong Dunong Program under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). For health, Antiqueños may avail of medical assistance, such as unpaid hospital bill, medicine and medical supplies, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures, under the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patient Program in all government hospitals. We are also improving hospital buildings and facilities as well as rural health units,” said Legarda.

“Ang kalaban natin ay hindi kandidato ngunit kahirapan at ito ang nilulutas natin sa paglilibot ko sa mga barangay sa Antique. I want to give what I can provide now and we will give more programs to all barangays. We will not be selective, we will provide all communities with what they need because we want a progressive, safe, healthy, liveable and resilient Antique,” Legarda concluded.