Legarda in Cebu for a 2-day visit

Three-term Senator, now Senatorial candidate, Loren Legarda is currently in the Province of Cebu to personally visit local government units where she extended assistance in the wake of Typhoon Odette last year. The super typhoon heavily destroyed communities in Visayas, Mindanao and parts of Southern Luzon, damaged properties, caused many days of power and water supply interruption, and even resulted in loss of lives.

“Immediate help was needed then, so we responded expeditiously and extended as much help as we could to the Cebuanos for them to recover from the destruction of Typhoon Odette. How the Cebuanos strived to overcome this challenge, through the photos and videos they sent me, was truly inspiring and made me work even harder so we can provide them more help, especially through our social service programs,” Legarda said.

One of the communities that Legarda is visiting is the fishing community of Lilo-an, where fishing paraphernalia and supplies were distributed to the fisherfolk in coordination with Lilo-an Mayor Christina Frasco.

“Alam natin kung gaano ka-importante ang ating mga mangingisda, not only for our economic growth but also for our food security. We need to continuously support them. We also need to capacitate them, especially on how to prepare before, as well as respond to during and after the occurrence of natural disasters. If I’m re-elected in the Senate, I will ensure that relevant programs under BFAR and convergence projects under the Department of Trade and Industry-Shared Services Facilities, for example, are given more funding support,” Legarda said.

During the onslaught of the typhoon in December last year, Legarda immediately extended personal aid to the affected communities. Financial assistance was turned over to the Province of Cebu; Cebu 2nd, 5th, and 7th legislative districts; Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Cebu City, and Municipalities of Consolacion and Liloan. Aside from fishing paraphernalia for fisherfolk, the aid turned over by Legarda last year was used to buy housing and construction materials for 2,000 families in the typhoon-hit area, provision of financial assistance, food packs, solar lamps, among others.

The three-term Senator is also invited as Guest Speaker in the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Cebu Chapter (LMP-Cebu) to discuss post-Odette recovery and “pandemic exit plans” specifically on tourism, education, and livelihood for the typhoon-hit areas in the province.

In her 20 years in public service, Legarda has helped Cebu through various projects such as TUPAD and Government Internship Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide the Cebuanos with employment opportunities.

To provide aid in education, Legarda gave scholarship grants in 2012, even before the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, which she authored and funded in 2017 was enacted into law. The three-term Senator also allocated funds for the improvement of infrastructure such as construction of multipurpose buildings, Child Minding center, and classroom buildings.

Legarda also ensured that Cebuano fisherfolk are provided with assistance to help them increase their income and production. In coordination with BFAR, Legarda allocated funds for the Bangkang Pinoy Program that provided 48 fiber glass reinforced surveillance pump boats, distributed in Carmen, Medelin, Pilar, Liloan, Ronda, Bantayan, Dalaguete, Catmon, Alegria, Malabuyog, Santander, San Francisco. Whereas 48 reinforced surveillance pump boats were provided to the 3rd District of Cebu province.

“Cebu is a progressive province, and Cebuanos are very warm, hardworking, and full of gratitude. As we move towards the path of growth and recovery, we will ensure that we will continue to help the province by bridging closer the government projects and programs that would help the Cebuanos in their everyday lives, especially those in the grassroots and the marginalized,” Legarda concluded.***