Legarda’s Strong Lead in Survey Inspires Her to Work Harder

Senator Loren Legarda today vowed to work even harder for the people as she thanked them for their continued trust, following the results of the latest Pulse Asia Survey ranking her at number 1 anew.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa taong bayan sa patuloy na pagmamahal at pag suporta sa akin. Makakaasa ang lahat na ipagpapatuloy ko ang paglilingkod ng tapat,” Legarda said after the latest Pulse Asia survey, conducted from March 16 to March 20, 2013, showed her with 55.3 percent voter preference, placing her at the top of the list of senatoriables.

Legarda said that if re-elected, she will continue to work hard and make sure to pass laws that will promote the well-being of Filipinos and protect the environment.

One of Legarda’s priorities is to push for the Pantawid Tuition Program which seeks to fund one college scholar for every poor family, particularly those belonging to the 3.8 million poorest households.

“Ang aking gagawin at sisikapin sa susunod na termino ay magkaroon ng kahit isang diploma ang bawat pamilya, lalo na yung nasa ilalim ng 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), para ang bawat mahirap na pamilya ay siguradong magkakaroon ng isang tagapagtaguyod,” she said.

Legarda also promised to finish the Universal Healthcare bill before the 15th Congress ends this June to ensure that the 25 million poorest Filipinos like sidewalk and ambulant vendors and the informal sector will have continued access to Philhealth benefits.

Even amidst her hectic campaign schedule, Legarda continues to work with different sectors in solving key issues such as poverty, malnutrition and unemployment, through L.O.R.E.N. sa Bawat Barangay, which is short for Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Employment Nationwide.

The program, whose aim is to inform citizens about livelihood and employment opportunities available to them and to involve various sectors and local government agencies in the creation of jobs and businesses, have been introduced in Baguio City, Butuan City and Mandaue City and will be brought around the country.

Legarda authored laws promoting employment opportunities and entrepreneurship, such as the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act, the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Barangay Kabuhayan Act, and the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act,

Other significant laws authored by Legarda include the People’s Survival Fund, which provides a special fund for the financing of activities of local governments for climate change adaptation programs; the Kasambahay Law, which provides additional social benefits such as SSS and Philhealth for kasambahays; and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which aims to improve the efforts against human trafficking by covering attempted trafficking and increasing protection to trafficked victims.