Message of Senator Loren Legarda | ACT Local Programme in the Province of Antique | July 16, 2025 | University of Antique, Sibalom

Mayad nga aga sa tanan. Masaya akong makasama ang mga kapwa nating lingkod-bayan mula sa bawat banwa sa lalawigan ng Antique para sa isang makabuluhang programa ngayong araw, katuwang ang Climate Change Commission.

I have always taken pride in my Antiqueña roots, roots that continue to fuel my dedication to serve our kasimanwa and ensure that our province is never left behind in the path towards sustainable progress.
Nasaksihan ninyo ang bawat hakbang na aking tinahak mula noong ako ay naging inyong kinatawan sa Kongreso hanggang ngayon bilang inyong four-term senator, at naging kaagapay ko rin kayo sa bawat yugto upang mas mapaunlad ang probinsya ng Antique at mas mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kasimanwa, lalo na ang mga kabilang sa mga sektor na higit na nangangailangan.

In 2024, the Philippines ranked first globally in the World Risk Index, highlighting our vulnerability to disasters and climate-related risks. It was also previously reported that between 2014 and 2023, nearly 43 million Filipinos were displaced due to disasters. By 2030, the projected cost of productivity loss here in the Philippines from extreme heat alone could reach PHP 466 billion annually.

When climate change was not yet at the forefront of national discourse, during my early years as a neophyte Senator, I was already advocating for legislative measures that promote ecological governance and environmental protection. These include pivotal policies such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.

In the 14th Congress, I authored Republic Act No. 9729 or the Climate Change Act which laid the groundwork for a national policy framework to combat the evolving threats of climate change. It also mandates our local government units to formulate and implement their own Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), equipping our local communities with the strategies for building climate resilience and adaptive capacity.

Having spent decades of my life advocating for climate action, the vision has always been to build a strong culture of awareness and action among fellow public servants, especially here in my home province of Antique, so that the integration of environmental stewardship into public service and leadership may be strengthened and upheld within communities.

This vision reflects the very purpose of why we are all here today: to empower our local
leaders and public servants through the ACT Local Programme, launched by the Climate
Change Commission, providing the tools, capacity, and guidance needed to craft effective and responsive Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs).

Ang pagpapatibay ng LCCAP ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang matiyak na ang Antique ay magiging mas ligtas at higit na handa sa pagtugon sa mga hamon at suliraning may kinalaman sa kalikasan. Huwag din nating kakalimutan na ang mga plano ay hindi dapat manatili sa papel lamang. Dapat itong isabuhay sa pamamagitan ng mga konkretong aksyong may malinaw na direksyon.

The implementation of such projects in Antique has always been regarded as a priority. Different green initiatives have been pursued, such as the Malandog River Rehabilitation and Development Project, and the establishment of the Libertad Mangrove Eco-Park, to protect and conserve our natural resources, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, promote environmental education, and boost ecotourism in the province.

I have consistently supported the funding of flood control structures and water supply systems, among other construction projects. Hindi lamang ito simpleng pagpapatayo ng mga imprastraktura, kundi mga simbolo ng pag-asa at progreso para sa ating mga
kasimanwa.

While resources may be provided by the national government, it is equally important that actions are community-driven as solutions are proven to be more effective when grounded in the needs, experiences, and active participation of people at the local level.

Mayaman ang probinsya ng Antique sa kultura, sa kasaysayan, at sa kalikasan. At tungkulin nating mga lingkod-bayan na protektahan ang mga biyayang likas na yaman, siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kasimanwa, at maglingkod nang may pagmamalasakit sa bawat sektor ng lipunan.

Duro duro gid nga salamat. Isang Luntiang Pilipinas sa ating lahat.