Legarda welcomes Antique gov’t and LMP-Antique endorsement, relaunched LOREN sa Barangay

On the start of campaign for the 2022 national elections, three-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker, Loren Legarda welcomed the endorsement of the Provincial Government of Antique and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Antique for her Senate comeback.

Legarda, whose term as the Representative of Antiqueños was challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, has proven that progress is possible with a proactive leader who pushes for continued change towards better education, more jobs, quality health care system, and a greener, resilient, and sustainable province with zero tolerance for corruption.

“I took up the challenge (to be the Representative of the Lone District of Antique in Congress), hindi ko naman akalain na magkaka-pandemya pero napatunayan po nating may pandemya man o wala ‘pag ang lider ay buo ang loob na gustong ibigay ang buong suporta at tulong; may zero tolerance for corruption; at proactive ang namumuno na mailapit ang mga programa ng gobyerno sa pinaka-sulok ng barangay, maging sa mga bundok, upang matulungan ang bawat kasimanwang nnagangailangan, hindi malabo ang pag-unlad sa loob ng maiksing panahon lamang,” Legarda said.

Since the three-term Senator started her term, Legarda has resolutely served her kasimanwa, launching projects and programs that will uplift the lives of every Antiqueños.

“Ang Antique ngayon ay nagtatamasa na ng kaunlaran at nakikilala na ang ating Probinsya. Dating isang maliit at mahirap na probinysa, nakilala na tayo ngayon dahil kay Inday Loren Legarda. Nabigyan natin ng dignidad lalo na ang mahihirap na Antiqueño. Kailangan pa natin ang ating pinalangga na Inday Loren, pero mas kailangan siya ng lahat ng Pilipino,” Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said.

Aside from Governor Cadiao, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Antique Chapter, headed by Libertad Mayor Mary Jean Te, also pledged their full support for Legarda as the pride of Western Visayas, agreeing with Governor Cadiao who said, “Si Inday Loren Legarda, ang bugal naton. Our pride. Siya ang nagdala sa aming probinsya upang makilala bilang rising star of Western Visayas. You are our pride, Senator Loren Legarda.”

As the Representative of Antique, Legarda made a commitment that the province of Antique will not be deprived of government programs. In a span of almost three years, Legarda has revived the glory of Antique and has steered the province toward resiliency and sustainability.

Based on her long-time initiative to strengthen rural development, Legarda also relaunched her LOREN sa Barangay campaign to empower barangays amid the ongoing pandemic recovery.

The acronym LOREN encapsulates the advocacies of the legislator on Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Employment Nationwide, and for Law and Order; Rights of women, children and indigenous peoples; Environment, education, and employment; and Nationalism, which were first espoused by Legarda during her first term as Senator in 1998.

From the provision of cattle, poultry, boats, fishing gears to the establishment of weaving centers, cotton processing centers, bamboo center, brick making facilities, community fish landings, to the availment of DOLE TUPAD and Pangkabuhayan, DTI Shared Service Facilities (SSF), DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), TESDA scholarships and trainings, DOST Community Empowerment thru Science & Technology (CEST), and DOH Medical Assistance to Indigent Program (MAIP), thousands of residents from the 590 barangays in Antique were able to benefit from these national programs previously unknown to most of them.

“Ang epektibong pagbangon mula sa pandemya ay ang masiguro na ang mga batas at programa natin ay maayos na napapatupad sa bawat barangay kaya katuwang ng ating mga barangay leaders at local officials, maayos nating na-identify ang pangangailangan ng bawat barangay at naitugma ito sa livelihood programs at mga proyekto na higit na kailangan sa kanilang komunidad,” Legarda shared.

As Legarda seeks to make a Senate comeback, she expressed her gratitude to the Provincial Government of Antique, LMP-Antique, and to all her kasimanwa for the outpouring support and ensured that she will continue to help Antique.

“Hindi pa po tapos ang aking trabaho, ang ating laban sa climate crisis, ang ating laban mula sa kahirapan at kawalan ng trabaho, at ang ating pagbangon mula sa pandemya. Masaya po akong inaalay ang aking kaalaman, ang aking sipag, ang aking lubos na dedikasyon  at pagmamahal sa ating mga kasimanwa sa Antique at aking buong pusong inaalay ang aking kalidad ng paglilingkod sa Senado upang mas maraming probinsya pa ang maabot ng ating mga programa at proyekto. Nagawa nating iangat ang buhay sa Antique, nailapit natin sa tao ang mga benepisyo at programang para sa kanila. Kung nagawa natin sa Antique, magagawa din natin sa bawat probinsya sa bansa,” Legarda concluded.***