Breaking News as of March 2010
Legarda vows support for corn farmers
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda vows to support corn farmers as they sustain the greatest injury from the prolonged dry spell caused by the El Nino phenomenon. Loren urged farmers’ organizations to be vigilant in monitoring the implementation of emergency measures undertaken by the Department of Agriculture. The funds should be prioritized to address the most urgent needs like shallow tube wells, irrigation pumps and fuel to the hardest hit areas. Funds should also be allocated to help farmers diversify to crops that are more resistant to drought, such as vegetables. In Ilocos Sur, for example, tobacco farming is a viable alternative crop while the drought persists.
March 24, 2010
Legarda chides Roxas for belittling climate change impact to RP
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. This is according to multilateral organizations such as the Manila-based ADB, World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development willing to provide funds to assist the country in adapting to climate change.
March 24, 2010
Legarda: Monitor campaign ad spending
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda today called for a close monitoring of all candidates’ campaign ad spending, vowing herself to stay within the allowed ad buys. “That’s the most responsible thing to do – for candidates to discipline themselves in the campaign spending. That’s the only way we can level the playing field for all,” she said.
March 23, 2010
Legarda To Mar: Prove your pro-poor agenda
NP-NPC-LDP Vice-Presidential candidate Loren Legarda yesterday challenged rival Mar Roxas to prove his “pro-poor” agenda and show concrete programs of poverty alleviation and improved social services.
March 23, 2010
Roxas evasive on Rizal land issue
"Mar Roxas tried to sidestep the agrarian reform issue against him and is seeking cover behind legal technicalities," NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said shortly after participating in the Harapan: The ABS-CBN Vice Presidential Debate on Sunday.
March 22, 2010
'Snub of town mayor may cost Aquino-Roxas votes in Tarlac'
Snubbing a Tarlac mayor may yet prove costly for Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas in their bid to get the presidency and vice presidency, respectively, according to NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda.
March 21, 2010
Mobilize Gov't Resources to Alleviate Poverty--Legarda
There is a need for the government to mobilize its resources to maximize the production capability of the agriculture and fishery sector in order to hasten countryside development and reduce the country’s poverty incidence particularly in the rural areas, according to NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda.
March 20, 2010
Legarda: I'm Not a Half-Hearted VP
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. This is according to multilateral organizations such as the Manila-based ADB, World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development willing to provide funds to assist the country in adapting to climate change.
March 19, 2010
Get to polling precincts early, Legarda urges voters
“If you don’t want to waste your vote, get to the polling precincts early so that everyone has enough time to cast their ballots,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Thursday.
March 19, 2010
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda goes on a day-long campaign with other NP candidates in Tarlac on Saturday (March 20).
March 19, 2010
Loren Asks: What is Mar's Position on Luisita Redistribution?
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda sought rival Mar Roxas’ position on the redistribution of Hacienda Luisita, in accordance to the 20-year old Agrarian Reform Law and in response to farmers’ plea for land distribution.
March 19, 2010
Revive L.O.R.E.N. In All Barangays
NP-NPC-LDP Vice-Presidential candidate Loren Legarda sought the help of barangay officials to implement her program for women, the environment, education, livelihood and peace and order.
March 19, 2010
‘I will keep questioning if Roxas is fit to be VP’ - Legarda
"The Liberal Party camp is right in its prediction: I will keep criticizing Mar Roxas, even as election day draws nearer, for fear that he will fool voters in choosing the wrong candidate for vice president," NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Tuesday as she headed for Pampanga.
March 18, 2010
Legarda calls for immediate creation of IRR for Expanded Senior Citizen’s Law
NP-NPC-LDP Vice Presidential candidate Senator Loren Legarda yesterday met with the Luzon Senior Citizens group and encouraged them to become involved in crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the recently passed Expanded Senior Citizen Law.
March 18, 2010
Legarda alarmed at Comelec revelation of 700,000 double registrants
“It’s alarming and all honest candidates should be concerned,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Wednesday on the recent Comelec revelation that around 700.000 voters in its national list were double registrants.
March 18, 2010
Legarda: ‘To ignore climate change is to neglect the poor’
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda today challenged all candidates running for national positions to tackle climate change, “an issue that is no longer the abstract, unintelligible concept that it was before. Climate change is real. You can see it in the daily struggles of the poor today.”
March 18, 2010
Legarda encouraged by Danding Cojuangco, NPC support
“It’s very reassuring and encouraging to hear that Danding Cojuangco has affirmed his and the party’s support for me,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Wednesday, a day after hearing the news.
March 17, 2010
Aim for entrepreneurship rather than employment’ - Legarda to graduating students
College students might do better after walking off the stage with their diplomas if they would consider aiming for entrepreneurship instead of employment, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Tuseday.
March 17, 2010
LOFW inflows up 8.5% to $1.372 billion in January
MANILA, Philippines--Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) surged by 8.5 percent to $1.372 billion in January or $107 million more than the $1.265 billion sent home in the same period last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.
March 16, 2010
Senator Loren Legarda, Senate Agriculture and Food Committee chairperson yesterday said she will include in the National Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System Bill or R.A. 3100 the institutionalization of the barangay technicians as part of the extension system for agriculture.
March 16, 2010
Public-Private Partnership a Must to Win Battle vs. Climate Change
The private sector must become government's partner in fighting climate change, including the disasters that it brings such as the Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng floods of 2009. It should collaborate with government in order to put in place measures to protect life and property against destructive natural forces.
March 15, 2010
Monitor P10-B Calamity Fund Against Political, Campaign Use
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda today called for strict monitoring of the P10 billion calamity fund, warming against its use for political and campaign purposes.
March 15, 2010
Loren Addresses Agri, Climate Change And Health Issues
Campaigning yesterday in Cabanatuan, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda called for extensive consultation in the agriculture, climate change and health committees of the Senate, all of which she chairs, in order to address food security and health issues.
March 14, 2010
Legarda Congratulates Pacman for Win
Manny has once again made us proud. More importantly, he has shown us what good old-fashioned hard work and determination can achieve.
March 14, 2010
“If Mar Roxas wants to prove that he’s more fit than I am to be vice president, he should be ready to debate with me on issues,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Saturday during a break during her campaign sorties in Nothern Samar.
March 14, 2010
Protect Women OFWs, Implement Anti-Trafficking Law
The only female vice presidential candidate, NP-NPC-LDP bet Loren Legarda, called on government to fight human trafficking, urging the implementation of the seven-year law she authored.
March 14, 2010
A Villar-Legarda administration will make possible not just cheap but free medicines for the poor. NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda announced this advocacy while campaigning this weekend in Samar and Leyte.
March 14, 2010
'Straight from the Horse's Mouth'--Legarda on Roxas Admission of Offer
“You got it straight from the horse’s mouth. Mar Roxas himself admits that he did ask me if I would withdraw from the vice presidential race and support him and Noynoy Aquino. Unfortunately, he remembers making a query, as he put it, but not an offer. He’s got a conveniently selective memory and a twisted interpretation of facts.”
March 13, 2010
Knock Out Clottey--Legarda to Pacquiao
“Like many Pinoys, I am extremely confident that Manny Pacquiao, given his sterling record, would win his bout with Joshua Clottey,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Friday, two days before the welterweight title fight in Texas.
March 13, 2010
Legarda: Implement Absolute Gun Ban to Curb Election Violence
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda called for stricter implementation of the absolute gun ban in order to curb election-related violence.
March 13, 2010
Legarda: Declaration Of State Of Calamity Should Not Be Abused
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda supports the declaration of a state of calamity in Mindanao, but remains on the lookout for any abuse of political power.
March 12, 2010
Loren On Poll Automation: Is There a Plan B?
Campaigning today in Calbayog, Catarman and Catbalogan, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said she is worried about poll automation, especially as power outages are becoming worse here despite government efforts. She urged government to set up a contingency plan to prevent a failure of elections.
March 12, 2010
Legarda Steadily Rises In Surveys
The poll results of NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda has been steadily improving with closest rival Mar Roxas’ lead having gone down by four percentage points compared to the SWS survey results in January.
March 11, 2010
Power Generation Should Be Prioritized by Next Administration
“Power generation projects should be one of the priorities of the next administration, especially in areas that have a lot of potential for growth,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Thursday, a day before her scheduled flight to Catarman, the capital town of Northern Leyte.
March 11, 2010
The government should take immediate steps to help the drought-stricken farmers, while making urgent repairs of irrigation and water impounding systems.
March 11, 2010
Free, not cheaper, medicines for the poor
Free medicines for the poor, and substantial and sweeping drug price cuts for the rest. Sen. Loren Legarda announced this advocacy after proclaiming that the much ballyhooed price reduction is “only good in television.”
March 11, 2010
Meralco rates up P1.83/kilowatthour
MANILA, Philippines--Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) can expect to pay P1.83 per kilowatthour (kWh) more in their electric bills this month.
March 10, 2010
Court junks Morong 43's habeas corpus plea
The Court of Appeals on Wednesday denied a petition to issue a writ of habeas corpus for the 43 health workers arrested by government security officers in Morong, Rizal last February on suspicion of being communist rebels.
March 10, 2010
Next Administration Faces Food Crisis--Loren
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda warned that the next administration’s biggest challenge would be a food crisis, and urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to immediately implement measures, including the release of funds, to counter the devastation of El Nino on the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector.
March 10, 2010
Roxas Tried to Broker Deal with Legarda to Get Her Out of VP Race
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda revealed on Wednesday that LP bet Mar Roxas tried to broker a deal that would see her withdrawing from the race.
March 10, 2010
Loren Warns Against Rise of Preventable Disease
Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, renews her call for a "massive and sustained vaccination drive" to protect the people against preventable diseases, especially as high temperatures are causing more people to be prone to disease.
March 10, 2010
Women's Livelihood a Must for RP Progress--Loren
On Women’s Day, NP-NPC-LDP Vice-Presidential Candidate Loren Legarda today called for the implementation of Brgy. Kabuhayan law and the empowerment of women entrepreneurs by providing more assistance to micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), which will address women unemployment especially in rural areas.
March 9, 2010
Loren Calls for Urgent Action on Maternal and Child Care
Speaking before women’s groups on the celebration of the International Women’s Day, NP-NPC-LDP Vice-Presidential candidate Loren Legarda today emphasized the need for accessible maternal and child care, alarmed at the high rate of maternal deaths in the country.
March 9, 2010
Loren: Gender and Climate Change are Intertwined
The problem of climate change is a challenge to womanhood, said NP-NPC-LDP vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda today as the country joins the celebration of the International Women’s Day.
March 9, 2010
Agri Dev't Needs Full Effect of CARP--Loren
Public officials who belong to the landed gentry should set the example in implementing true land reform by having their own haciendas distributed among their tenants, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda stressed before a group of farmers and traders in Saturday in Cotabato.
March 8, 2010
Loren: Efficiency Not Power Rate Hike, Invest in Power Plant and Renewable Energy
Following a warning from the country’s biggest power distributor that there will be an increase in electricity prices this month due to a hike in the cost of power supplied by generation companies, NP-NPC-LDP Vice-Presidential Candidate Loren Legarda today reiterated the need for proper action on the power crisis.
March 8, 2010
Loren Pushes For Benefits For Teachers, Nurses, Military, Police
NPC-NP-LDP Vice-Presidential candidate Loren Legarda today denied allegations by political foes that she has filed a bill to cut the benefits and salary of teachers, nurses, the military and the police.
March 6, 2010
Loren Ventures Into Pro-Administration Turf
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda continues her Mindanao campaign on Saturday in Malaybalay in Bukidnon, whose officials are mostly on the side of administration Governor Jose Zubiri. But Legarda, who will fly in via chopper from Davao City, is not worried about a “hostile reception.” She is, after all, the guest of honor at the Kaamulan Festival at the invitation of Zubiri himself.
March 6, 2010
Watch Out For Abusive Recruiters--Loren Warns OFWs
NPC-NP-LDP Vice-Presidential candidate Loren Legarda today warned applicants for overseas work, especially the women, to be vigilant of unscrupulous recruiters. In her Davao campaign sortie, the local media asked for her plans for OFWs.
March 6, 2010
Loren: I Made Sure The 2010 Agriculture Budget is a Climate Change-friendly Budget
Asked what she thought about PGMA’s distribution of farm inputs and irrigation equipment in response to El Nino, Senator Loren Legarda, Senate chair of the Committee on Agriculture said, “I made sure that the 2010 budget is climate-change responsive. Then DA Secretary Arthur Yap and newly appointed Secretary Bernie Fondevilla—knowing my chief concern after Ondoy and Pepeng devastated our farms and fishfarms—proposed to me a budget which would ensure we would have something to bail our farmers and fisherfolk out in the event that similar disasters would occur,” Loren said.
March 5, 2010
Loren Renews Call For Disaster Preparedness After Taiwan Quake
After a 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Southern Taiwan yesterday, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda today reiterated her call for government and the NDCC to beef up its disaster-preparedness and response systems.
March 5, 2010
Loren Wants Task Force To Investigate Whether El Niño Really Affected Hydro Power Plants
Senator Loren Legarda called on the Presidential El Nino Task Force to investigate and make a truthful assessment whether the El Nino phenomenon really affected the power generation of hydroelectric plants even as she pushed for more participation by private sector in energy generation, particularly in Mindanao.
March 5, 2010
Gov’t Could Have Foreseen Mindanao Power Crisis 10 Years Ago
“El Niño seems to be a most convenient scapegoat and whipping boy of the Arroyo administration to cover up for its lack of foresight, which resulted in the current power crisis in Mindanao,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Thursday during a break in her campaign sortie in Davao City.
March 5, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - The official who signed the broadband deal with ZTE Corp. is now the "Little President" while the undersecretary whose appointment to the maritime authority was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC) now heads the management staff at Malacañang as President Arroyo started forming a Cabinet transition team yesterday.
March 4, 2010
1-hour blackouts hit parts of Luzon
MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Thursday said rotating 1-hour blackouts will affect parts of Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon due to an expected shortfall in energy supply.
March 4, 2010
Loren Calls For Genuine Women And Youth Empowerment
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda emphasized the need to develop avenues for Filipino women and young girls to have better access to opportunities in improving their welfare through education and livelihood, especially after the passage of RA9710 or the Magna Carta of Women which Loren helped usher in the Senate.
March 4, 2010
Loren To Attend Bulawan Festival in Compostela Valley
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda, along with running mate Manny Villar will attend the Bulawan Festival in Compostela Valley at the invitation of Governor Arturo Uy.
March 4, 2010
Decisive Action Needed, Not Emergency Powers
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda met yesterday with the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO) to discuss ways to ease the power woes in the region, and stressed that decisive action – not emergency powers - is necessary to solve the power problem.
March 4, 2010
Gov't needs to invest more in power, infrastructure in Mindanao
The government needs to invest in infrastructure and new sources of power in the Caraga region to allow the people to tap its rich resources, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Wednesday during a break in her Mindanao campaign.
March 4, 2010
Loren Warmly Welcomed By Caraga Youth
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda was received by an enthusiastic crowd of twenty thousand students at the Caraga State University as she campaigns in Mindanao this week.
March 3, 2010
PMA '69 All Out For Mistahs, Offsprings
The class of 1969 of the Philippine Military Academy is going all out for its classmates and children running for office in the 2010 elections, PMA ’69 class spokesperson Gen. Vic Tiangco announced today. Among its classmates or mistahs are vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda, senatorial candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago, mayoralty candidate Gen. Rene Aguda of Pasquin, Ilocos Norte, reelectionist Congressman Don Mendoza in Batangas and Marge Defensor in Taguig City. Senators Loren and Miriam are adopted members of the class.
March 3, 2010
PMA '69 All Out For Mistahs, Offsprings
The class of 1969 of the Philippine Military Academy is going all out for its classmates and children running for office in the 2010 elections, PMA ’69 class spokesperson Gen. Vic Tiangco announced today. Among its classmates or mistahs are vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda, senatorial candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago, mayoralty candidate Gen. Rene Aguda of Pasquin, Ilocos Norte, reelectionist Congressman Don Mendoza in Batangas and Marge Defensor in Taguig City. Senators Loren and Miriam are adopted members of the class.
March 3, 2010
'Flying Voters, Power Crisis: Incompetence Or Electoral Fraud?' Loren Ask
“An alarming pattern suggesting attempts to rig the elections is emerging in Mindanao. The Commission on Elections should take quick and strong steps to prevent it,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Tuesday as she started her Mindanao campaign in Surigao City.
March 3, 2010
Climate Change More Than a Political Campaign Issue
“Climate change and its effects are not just campaign issues that every candidate pay lip service to,” NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Wednesday. “The next administration will have to actually do something about it. And that’s a big challenge.”
March 3, 2010
Loren To NDCC: Stable Calamity-Response Imperative to RP
NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda today urged government and the NDCC to beef up its disaster-preparedness and response systems, and warned Filipinos to be always prepared for natural calamities.
March 2, 2010
El Niño Brownouts Threatening Progress In Caraga
SURIGAO CITY - El Niño has threatened to slow down the progress of Surigao City, an otherwise fast developing trade and industry hub in the Caraga region, with four-hour daily brownouts caused by the low-water level at Maria Cristina Falls, the region’s source of hydroelectric power.
March 2, 2010
Loren Calls For Environmental Protection At Panagbenga
In the yearly flower festival in Baguio this weekend, the only environmental advocate running for the vice presidency Loren Legarda reminded participants of the Panagbenga Festival about the responsibility of taking care of the environment so we can continue enjoying the beauty of nature.
March 2, 2010
Death toll in Chile earthquake passes 700
Santiago, Chile (CNN) -- The death toll from Saturday's 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile has risen to 708, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said.
March 1, 2010
Loren Inspires Women, Youth To Lead
On the first day of Women’s Month, vice presidential bet for Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP) and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) Loren Legarda inspired women and youth to lead the country’s efforts towards genuine reform.
March 1, 2010
Energy Chief Should Be Held Responsible For Power Crisis - Loren
The current electrical power crisis would not have hit the country if the Arroyo administration had not been so preoccupied with trying to hold on to political power, NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda said on Monday, following reports of the power situation in Northern Luzon.
March 1, 2010
Loren Appeals To Agri-Fishery Bureaucracy
Senator Loren Legarda urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Resources (BFAR) to immediately implement measures, including the release of funds, to minimize the damage of the El Nino phenomenon to the fishery sector.
March 1, 2010
Climate Change A Threat To Filipino Poor – LOREN
Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP) and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) vice presidential bet Senator Loren Legarda today lamented the great injustice suffered by the country's poorest, saying that "they contribute least to the problem (of climate change) yet they bear and suffer most from the impact."
March 1, 2010
