Second State of the District Address

2nd State of the District Address
Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda
Representative of the Lone District of Antique

Mayad nga adlaw sa akon mga kasimanwang Antiqueño!

Masaya akong makasama kayo sa araw na ito, bagama’t isinasagawa natin itong pangalawang State of the District Address online o virtually. Mahalaga ang buwan ng Oktubre para sa akin dahil sa birthday ng aking ina, si Bessie Gella Legarda, anak ni Carmen Gella na taga-Pandan, Antique, na sya namang anak ni Ariston Gella, na Representante ng Antique sa Malolos Congress, kauna-unahang pharmacist ng probinsya, at kapatid nina Governor Vicente Gella at Mayor Pedro Gella ng Sibalom.

Kung kaya’t bilang pag-gunita sa mga alaala ng aking yumaong ina, nais kong ma-ireport sa inyo ngayong umaga ang aking mga nagawa mula noong ako ay nag-umpisa ng panunungkulan bilang bagong Representante ng Lone District ng Antique, isang taon at apat na buwan na ang nakaraan.

Miss na miss ko na ang ating probinsya ngunit patuloy ang aking panalangin na lahat tayo ay magkaroon ng maayos na kalusugan at palaging maging ligtas sa pandemya ng COVID-19.

Habang patuloy na tayo ay nakikipaglaban sa COVID-19 pandemic, patuloy din nating tinitiyak na ang ating probinsya ng Antique ay may sapat na kakayanan upang tulungan ang ating mga kasimanwa na lubos na naapektuhan ng mga community quarantine sa loob ng pitong buwan na ito ay ipinapatupad hindi lamang sa ating probinsya, pati na rin sa mga iba’t-ibang bahagi ng ating bansa.
With Antique’s population of more than 582,000 in mind, we have closely coordinated with the national agencies in implementing measures to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 infections. As the provincial government and local government units imposed quarantine measures and safety protocols, my office likewise extended much-needed assistance to our kasimanwa including the following:

1. test kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs), masks, thermal scanners, vitamins, gallons of alcohol, as well as financial support to safeguard our own front-liners. This assistance was extended in my personal capacity in the beginning of the pandemic in March, before the passage of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Bayanihan 1;
2. sa tulong ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), nakapagpa-lagay tayo ng decontamination and sanitation tents sa ating mga provincial borders upang masiguro natin hangga’t maaari na ang mga papasok na sasakyan ay malilinis. Nagpalagay din tayo ng handwashing facility at mga portalets upang makatulong din sa mga byahero;
3. daily food provisions were distributed to border checkpoints, hospitals, and municipal police stations;
4. Governor Dodod Cadiao and I also initiated the Pagkaon Para Sa Tanan program. By procuring the vegetables from our local farmers, as source of food supply for Pagkaon Para sa Tanan, we were able to give critical help to those who were severely affected by community quarantines and restrictions;
5. In coordination with the Department of Agriculture, 23,865 rice farmers were able to receive financial subsidy for their farm needs and for food supplies for their family;
6. While the national government implemented the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) under Bayanihan 1, of which I was an author, we fast-tracked the release of DSWD-AICS for those who were not able to avail of the SAP, especially those affected by COVID-19. Gumawa po tayo ng paraan upang matulungan ang mga katulad ng mga PUMs/PUIs, displaced workers, ang mga Sacada galing Negros na kailangang umuwi ng Antique, pati na rin ang mga miyembro ng LGBT na hindi nabigyan ng SAP.
Bukod sa DSWD-AICS, natulungan din ng LGSF-AICS ang ilang bayan katulad ng Sibalom, Patnongon at Valderrama upang mabigyan ng financial assistance ang mga Antiqueño dahil na rin sa ating pakikipagtulungan sa DBM.
7. DOLE TUPAD funds were also utilized as a COVID-19 related intervention in the province. Since the start of the outbreak in February, we now have more than 14,400 beneficiaries, including the families of front-liners, families of PUMs/PUIs, and requests from various groups received by my District Office. The beneficiaries also included displaced MSME workers who undertook important tasks such as community and backyard gardening, waste segregation, recycling and composting, cleaning and eliminating breeding places of mosquitoes, and disinfection/sanitation of surroundings. Since we brought TUPAD cash-for-work to the province in 2017, 79,274 beneficiaries have received assistance from this program.
8. MAIP, or medical assistance, continued to be available during this time of the pandemic. Ang tanan nga dya kinahanglanon gid labi pa sa tiempo kang pandemia.
9. On June 7, Gov. Dodod and I launched the Libre Uli Antique Program to facilitate the immediate repatriation of locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) back to the province. We brought home a total of 1,115 Antiqueños onboard Fastcat vessels from the Batangas Port to Lipata Port in Culasi, Antique in six (6) batches under the Libre Uli Program. A total of 245 Antiqueños were, in turn, able to go back to Luzon via the Lipata Port to the Batangas City Port.
10. In coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Philippine Airlines (PAL), we facilitated the special flights to Antique via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila to bring home LSIs who were not able to avail of the Libre Uli Program. The first trip on June 28 carried 86 locally-stranded Antiqueños, while 84 passengers boarded the flight going back to Manila. There had been succeeding flights and RoRo trips since then for Antiqueños who wanted to come home.

Sa panahong ito ng krisis at pandemya, dapat ay mabilis tayong kumikilos upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kasimanwa.

Looking back at my first year as your Congresswoman, I can confidently say that, setting this global pandemic aside, our province has indeed transformed into a progressive province that is inclusive, peaceful and orderly, resilient, empowering the vulnerable, and respectful of its environment and heritage.

Even though the year 2020 has brought a massive challenge to our goal of bringing Antique to the forefront of progress, my resolve to further innovate and focus on decisions and actions that would greatly contribute to the development of this province and the people is even greater.

Ang ika ayong lawas, edukasyon kag parangabuhian kang aton mga kasimanwa amo gid ang akon ginatugruan kang importansiya halin pa sang una nga bisan indi pa ako ang inyo Kongresista.

I continuously work to provide Antiqueños with quality health care services through the medical assistance for indigent patients (MAIP), the improvement of health facilities and provision of medical equipment under the Department of Health (DOH).

In 2019, I allocated Php150 million MAIP funds, which were availed of by patients in the 9 hospitals in the province, 2 public hospitals in Iloilo City, and one in Kalibo, Aklan. As of July 2020, more than 50,000 patients have already benefitted from MAIP amounting to Php 113.97 million. Bukod diyan, ay mayroon pa tayong karagdagang MAIP funds sa ilalim ng 2020 GAA.

To make medicines and supplies more accessible and to address the limited numbers of pharmacies in the province, we funded free medicines through the Botika ng Bayan under the Pharmaceutical Management Program of the Department of Health last year. This program gives free medicines, especially to those who are living in the upland and the far-flung barangays in Antique. To date, 11 pharmacists were hired in the rural health units in the municipalities of Anini-y, Belison, Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Pandan, Libertad, and Caluya to help facilitate the Botika ng Bayan.

Construction of barangay health stations in the municipalities of Belison, Hamtic, and Libertad is currently ongoing. Furthermore, we have ongoing expansion, construction and renovation of Rural Health Units in the municipalities of Belison, Barbaza, Culasi, Caluya, Hamtic, Laua-an, Libertad, Pandan, Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, Sibalom, Sebaste, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier, and Valderrama. Naka-schedule na din ang turn-over ng mga x-ray machines at ibang medical equipment sa ating mga RHUs.

In San Jose, the construction of the 100-bed additional wards, the repair and renovation of the annex building is on-going. The construction, expansion, upgrade, and renovation of the other eight (8) hospitals are also proceeding.

As part of our fight against COVID-19, I urged Governor Cadiao to consider establishing our very own RT-PCR Testing Laboratory in the province. Once the procurement process is finalized, the laboratory will improve the testing capacity of the province, fill in the gap in our local health care system, and enable us to respond more quickly to probable COVID-19 cases.

Aside from health, the scholarships for college students under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program, and educational assistance under the Tertiary Education Subsidy were also funded. For the school year 2019-2020, I allocated Php 134.3 million for 8,884 grantees in Region VI, including the University of Antique system.

The development of facilities in the different campuses of the University of Antique was also funded. We have also pursued partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry for the establishment of bamboo processing and development center, and the development of different techno hubs in Sibalom, Tibiao, Caluya, San Remigio and Hamtic, and a brick-making facility in Sibalom and Tibiao, all in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology.

For basic education, funding support was also given for better facilities and more conducive learning environment for our school children. The construction of 16 new classrooms in different schools in San Remigio, Anini-y and Bugasong has been ongoing and nearing its completion with an allocated budget of P29.54 million under the 2019 Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF). P205.6 million was allocated under the BEFF for the construction of 82 new classrooms in 12 elementary schools and high schools in the municipalities of Laua-an, Culasi, Hamtic, San Remigio, Sibalom, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier, Belison, and Patnongon. In addition to this, the restoration and rehabilitation of twelve (12) Gabaldon heritage school buildings in Hamtic, Tibiao, Culasi, San Jose, Patnongon, Laua-an, and Pandan were also undertaken.

Among the first bills I filed in Congress is House Bill No. 633, which seeks to create the High School for the Arts in Antique, and we hope to pass this when we resume our sessions next month.

To upgrade the skills of our youth, we also have scholarships under TESDA through the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP). As of today, we already have more than 16,430 scholars who have availed of the different skills training program of TESDA.

TESDA training centers in each municipality are also being constructed. The construction of the provincial training center in Hamtic has also started. I also filed House Bill 7887 to formalize the creation of these TESDA Centers and to institutionalize the funding requirements for these centers for the succeeding years.

To help cushion the effects of unemployment, my office facilitated the implementation of DOLE TUPAD cash-for-work. From last year, a total of Php 185.14 million has been disbursed by DOLE Antique Field Office to 36,271 qualified beneficiaries. This amount includes the three batches of Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko Disinfection/Sanitation Project.

In addition to this, we have also employed 7,716 interns under the DOLE Government Internship Program (GIP). As we adjust to the new normal, I supported the partnership of DOLE-Antique Field Office and the DepEd Schools Division of Antique to hire 612 interns to be deployed to all the 590 barangays and 22 School Districts in the province to serve as “para teachers” and provide much-needed assistance to learners, enabling them to cope with the new learning system under the new learning modalities we are implementing in all the barangays and the school districts.
We are implementing inclusive growth in the province through massive job and livelihood generation and substantial poverty reduction, we continue to collaborate with other government agencies for support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Financial assistance has been provided for livelihood projects under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of DSWD, and Pangkabuhayan Program of DOLE. Under the SLP, 57 associations and 2,175 Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) beneficiaries were chosen to receive seed money for their livelihood projects, kasama dito ang mga ilang miyembro ng ating mga indigenous communities sa Igcalawagan, Tobias Fornier at Poblacion 5, Hamtic. 260 beneficiaries received assistance under DOLE Pangkabuhayan community store project, including the Iraynon-Bukidnon from Laua-an. Ang IP community naman sa Valderrama ay naka-benepisyo mula sa training and livelihood na proyekto din ng Department of Tourism, and the distribution of livelihood projects will continue until December this year.

To widen the reach and to empower our local MSMEs, we continued to boost our collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the participation of these MSMEs in last year’s edition of the annual National Arts and Crafts Fair, Manila FAME, and through Center for International Trade and Exposition Missions (CITEM).

We continue to support our shared service facilities (SSF), through which we hope to realize soon our aim to operationalize our very own tuna highway, complete with support facilities for fish processing, product marketing and development, among other SSF projects.

We have also put up weaving centers in Bugasong, Tibiao, Pandan and Patnongon to further promote the weaving industry in the province, in coordination with PhilFIDA. A cotton processing center in Patnongon is also nearing completion. We already have a natural dye center in Bugasong, and another one will be set up in Tibiao.

We also localized the Philippine Harvest Fair in Antique to promote our native products and our cultural heritage. At the same time, the aim is for this to bring additional income to our local producers. In partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), various MSMEs in the province were invited to display their products in the in the Antique Harvest Fair held at Robinson’s Mall in San Jose and at Philippine Harvest: Antique held at the Central Square Mall in Bonifacio Global City as a way of promoting and boosting trade and tourism in the country.

We also continued to provide assistance to our fisherfolk and farmers through funding support from the Department of Agriculture for our agriculture and fishery projects. Noong September, ay nakapag-umpisa na ang BFAR na magpamahagi ng mga fiberglass boats. Mula noong 2017 ay mayroong 3,288 beneficiaries na ang nabigyan ng mga bangka. Kung inyo ring maaalala, nakasama ko kayo sa pamamahagi ng fishing gears at paraphernalia sa Libertad, Laua-an, at Patnongon. Sa Tibiao naman ay ongoing ang pagtatayo ng isang fisherman’s wharf.

To further assist our fishermen, we have initiated the improvement and rehabilitation of ports in the following towns to ease the access of our fishermen to local markets and ensure the quality of their landed catch: Libertad, Barbaza, Caluya, Hamtic, Pandan, Culasi, and Anini-y.

A few weeks ago, the establishment of an Extension Campus of the University of the Philippines Visayas already commenced in Pandan. This will provide learning and earning opportunities for the fisherfolk of coastal communities as well as our local enterprises.

The implementation of various dairy projects in Antique is also on-going. Among these are the provision of carabaos, milk processing and dairy store, milk consolidating and milk processing equipment, procurement of 1 unit of vehicle and 2 units of motorcycle, packaging equipment, and provision of trainings and seminars for farmers.

To date, in coordination with the Philippine Carabao Center, 160 female carabaos have already been distributed to the Pandan Multipurpose Cooperative and Hamtic Multipurpose Cooperative.

Tuloy-tuloy din ang ating Antique Dairy Development program at ang pamimigay ng mga manok bisaya, baboy talunon kag baka upang magkaroon ang mga Antiqueño ng pagkakakitaan sa pamamagitan ng livestock farming. We are also expecting the construction of slaughterhouses to start in San Jose, Sibalom, Culasi and Pandan worth Php 6.25 million each.

Aside from dairy and livestock, we have allocated funds for rice and corn program machineries and for the development program for high-value crops in San Remigio under the Department of Agriculture, pati na rin ang pamimigay ng mga equipment and machinery para sa ating mga rice farmers and corn growers.

Puspusan ang ating pagsisikap upang masuportahan at maisagawa ang mga iba’t-ibang proyekto upang gumaan ang buhay ng mga Antiqueño. We are committed to making our province a premier ecotourism destination and one that provides sustainable livelihood that generate more jobs for our people.

The expansion and improvement of the Antique Airport continues. The runway extension and the asphalt overlay of the runway have been completed. While the construction of new apron and taxiways, passenger terminal building, administration office, ARFF, powerhouse, staff house, and the security and perimeter fence are progressing.

Umaasa tayong kaagad matatapos ang proyektong ito upang maging mas maayos ang serbisyo sa ating mga pasahero, bisita man o kapwa nating mga Antiqueño. Isa ito sa magiging susi sa paglago ng turismo at kalakalan dito sa ating probinsya.

Good news continues with the new operational RoRo routes in the province, which are more accessible and convenient for our kasimanwa, as well as for other people who travel for business, tourism and trade. FastCat already held its inaugural voyage from Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro to Caluya and from Caluya to Caticlan Port in Malay, Aklan, and the return trips for both legs. Schedule of trips will become regular once the community quarantine restrictions are lifted.
Other infrastructure projects are also ongoing to provide better services to our kasimanwa. The new Legislative Building is almost completed and will soon be home to our Sangguniang Panlalawigan. In San Jose, we provided support for the construction of a three-storey NBI District Office, and for the Business Park. The DFA will also soon open its consular office in San Jose. I also filed House Bill No. 6605, titled An Act Establishing a Land Transportation Office District Branch in Pandan. We have also initially coordinated with the Judiciary for the construction of new Halls of Justice. I have also filed House Bill 7870, which seeks to create additional regional trial courts in Bugasong, San Jose and Culasi and a municipal trial court in San Jose.

In my hometown in Pandan, we successfully inaugurated the Ultra-Filtration System that will ensure access to potable water not only for the Pandanons, but also for kasimanwa from the neighboring towns of Libertad and Sebaste. The construction of the Pandan Ecotourism Road, which aims to enable easier transportation of produce from the uplands to the town proper is currently under way and will soon be utilized to connect the seven upland barangays of Pandan – namely, Perfecta, Badiangan, Sta. Ana, San Joaquin, Napuid, Aracay and Ma-adios – to the main town. This will shorten travel time from one hour to 15 only minutes.

Sa pakikipagtulungan din natin sa DBM, nabigyan din ng LGSF ang Sibalom para sa pagpapatayo ng cultural center at ang Barbaza naman ay magkakaroon ng mga multipurpose halls at slaughter house.

Katuwang din natin ang DSWD sa pagpapatupad ng Kalahi-CIDSS kaya’t nitong mga nakaraang linggo ay nagkaroon tayo ng mga ground breaking activities sa iba’t-ibang barangay ng Sibalom, Pandan at Patnongon, kung saan kailangang-kailangan ang mga proyektong ito.

Katuwang ang DPWH, nagpapatayo tayo ng bagsakan center sa Sibalom, at nakapag-palagay tayo mga water supply systems sa 42 barangays sa iba’t ibang bayan. Ipapagpatuloy natin ito sa susunod pang taon, upang lubusang mapaayos natin ang health and sanitation ng ating mga kasimanwa. Ito din ang dahilan kung bakit sa aking personal na kakayanan ay nagdonate tayo ng 7,259 toilet bowls upang tuluyan nating masolusyonan ang issue ng open defacation sa mga komunidad.

Ilan din sa pinakamahalagang proyekto na ginagawa ngayon ay ang construction ng Vilvar Bridge along Vilvar-Nasuli Road sa San Remigio at ang Sibalom Bridge naman sa Sibalom. Matagal na ninyong pangarap ito. Buhay niyo run diya nga ginahandum, and I am making this come true.

Makakatulong din sa pag-angat ng turismo dito sa Antique ang pagtatayo ng Antique Convention Center, at ang pagtatapos ng Esplanade sa San Jose, pati na rin ang construction ng Sabang West Road sa Bugasong upang mas lalo pa nating ma-enjoy ang iba’t-ibang kulay ng sunset dito sa Antique.

Natutuwa akong makita ang mga litrato ng Esplanade na halos tapos na, sapagkat dati itong masukal at maalikabok na daan, at sa ibang parte ay may mga basura pa kung kaya’t ang mga residente sa paligid dito ay nagrereklamo.

Ngunit ngayon, sa napakagandang Esplanade, magkakaroon dito ng dedicated bike lanes and walk lanes, at magsisilbing lugar para makapag-exercise at makasagap ng preskong hangin ang mga bumibisita dito.

Kasama din sa mga ongoing projects natin ang Panay East-West Road na mag-kokonekta sa Valderrama papuntang Iloilo Airport, ang mababawasan ang travel time mula 3 hours to 2 hours. Para naman sa mga taga-San Remigio at Sibalom, malaking tulong ang ginagawang road project na mag-kokonekta naman ng kanilang bayan sa Leon, Iloilo. Maraming residente at turista din ang makakakita sa ating magagandang rice terraces kapag natapos na ang San Remigio-Bugo-General Fullon-Valderrama Road. Ang lahat ng mga proyektong ito ay makakatulong sa pag-unlad ng ating road infrastructure at agri-tourism industry.

Kasabay ng infrastructure development ay pinapangalagaan din po natin ang ating kalikasan at ang ating mga natural resources. Kasalukuyan, sa tulong ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in the province, o ang PENRO, ay nagtatayo tayo ng 10 information centers sa mga bayan ng Anini-y, Laua-an, Patnongon, Tobias Fornier, Barbaza, Culasi, Libertad, Pandan, Tibiao, and Sebaste. Nakapagbigay din tayo ng mga trabaho sa mga tinatawag nating Bantay-Suba, mga Forest Protection Officers at mga Community Development Officers.

Kasama rin sa mga environment-related projects natin ang pagpapa-ayos ng mga facilities sa Pandan Arboretum and Eco-Park at Sibalom Natural Park upang mas ma-enjoy at mapangalagaan ng maayos ng mga bumibisita dito ang ating mga natural parks.
Dahil sa aking lubos na pagmamahal sa ating kalikasan, ang kauna-unahang bill na aking nai-file noong nag-umpisa ang aking termino bilang Kongresista ay ang House Bill No. 632, na magdedeklara sa Northern Antique Protected Seascape and Landscape na matatagpuan sa mga bayan ng Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, at Tibiao bilang isang ecotourism zone. Ang bill na ito ay naipasa na natin sa Kongreso at ngayon ay nasa Senado na. Kapag ito ay maaprubahan, masisisguro natin na magiging responsable at sustainable ang pag-gamit ng mga natural resources natin sa kabuuan ng ecotourism zone na ito, at ang magiging pangunahing layunin ay ang protection, preservation at conservation ng mga likas na yaman dito.

The construction of the Pawikan Center in Lamawan Pony, Funda Dalipe, San Jose worth Php 2 million is also now ongoing. This will provide better facility for the protection and conservation of our sea turtles.

In our aim to preserve our cultural and heritage wealth, we have provided funding for the rehabilitation of the Old Capitol Building, the Balay nga Bato, and the plazas in each municipality. Together with TIEZA, we are renovating our 18 municipal plazas to preserve their cultural and historical features and also to provide a more fitting venue for our kasimanwa to unwind and conduct momentous municipal activities.

Pag dating naman sa kultura, once the restoration of the Old Capitol building is completed, this age-old building that has been part of Antique’s history will be repurposed into a textile gallery, museum, and library.

Finally, one of my most beloved advocacy, the restoration of the only remaining Balay nga Bato in Antique will soon provide a home for the Institute of Living Traditions. Isang haligi ng ating kasaysayan ang Balay nga Bato, at nararapat lang na bigyan sya ng karampatang dangal para naman maipakita natin ito sa henerasyon pa na darating.

Patuloy din nating isasagawa ang pagmamapa ng ating kultura, ang tinatawag na cultural mapping, ika nga, kasama at katuwang natin ang ating mga guro, at ang National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) at UP Visayas upang maisagawa ito.

Napakahaba na po ng listahan ng mga proyekto na aking nai-report sa inyo, ngunit masisiguro ko sa inyo na mas madami pa po ang mga hindi ko pa nabanggit. This is because never has it happened that our beloved province has received so much help, seen so much ongoing projects, and felt so much care in its entire history. Only now. Wara guid dya natabo sa atun pinalangga nga probinsya nga nakabaton ka tuman ka raku nga bulig, makita natun ang karakuon ka ginapa obra nga mga proyekto, kag ang pag ulikid nga wara natun na agman sa kabuhayon. Kadya lang gid.

As your Congresswoman, I do not intend to slow down until our province is at the height of its progress and the development that Antiqueños have been dreaming of for decades is felt even in the remotest upland barangay.

Together with the provincial government, our local chief executives and their officials, our barangay officials, non-government organizations, religious groups, and the academic community, I will make sure that you will all experience first-hand the progress and prosperity that you deserve. Gusto ko nga masigurado nga ma ambitan guid ninyo ang dapat nga pag-asenso sa inyo tagsatagsa nga parangabuhian.

We will continue to move forward towards inclusive growth and development, bringing with us our pride as Antiqueños and the richness of our diverse culture and heritage. We will continue to aim for the kind of governance that provides social services and that strengthens culture-sensitive development for all. Lahat ng ito ay sama-sama nating gagawin para sa inyong lahat. Ang tanan nga dya iririmaw natun nga pagahimuon para kaninyo tanan.

Ako po ang inyong Congresswoman, Loren Legarda. Duro-duro gid nga salamat! Palangga ko kamo!