Legarda seeks support from Ilocos Sur; commits to help the province

In her senate bid this year, three-term Senator and Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda sought the support once again of the people of Ilocos Sur to help her gain a seat in the Senate.

Legarda, who loves Ilocos region so much because of her Ilocana yaya, whom she fondly calls “Nanay Fely” and who took care of her since childhood alongside with her late mother Bessie, mentioned that while she was not in the national post in the past three years, she never forgot to help the province as she wanted the Ilocanos uplift their lives especially now that there is still an ongoing pandemic.

“Utang na loob ko sa isang dakilang Ilocana kung nasaan man ako ngayon. I am also very grateful to all Ilocanos who supported me since I first ran in 1998 and made me number 1 Senator in the region three times. Now that I am seeking a Senatorial comeback, I am asking again for your full support for me to continue the programs and the causes that I have been espousing for the betterment of the Filipino people,” Legarda said.

In her aim to improve the lives of the poor, women, children, indigenous peoples, and the marginalized sector, Legarda has pushed for the strengthened implementation of national government programs down to the grass roots and ensured that these programs were adequately funded to fully serve the needs of the people.

To provide emergency employment and livelihood assistance to displaced workers, underemployed, and seasonal workers, Legarda allocated funds for the implementation of DOLE TUPAD and GIP in the province of Ilocos Sur. Programs like these addressed unemployment in the province and promote rural development, empowering the workers, who are the backbone of the economy.

Legarda also provided funds for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) programs such as, Barangay Kabuhayan Skills Training Program (BKSTP), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) to further provide Ilocos Sur with the capacity to generate more livelihood, promote entrepreneurship and ensure better employability of Ilocano skilled workers.

Moreover, in 2018, Legarda allocated funds for the establishment of the Ylokos Province Theme Park in Vigan City. Through her intervention as then Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Vigan Airport Development Project was funded and the Water System Facilities in Public Schools in the first district of Ilocos Sur were made possible.

Legarda committed her continuous support for Ilocos Sur for the improvement of the province, particularly the lives and livelihoods of Ilocanos. Just like how she put efforts to further improve her home province of Antique in the past years, she assured that Ilocanos will continue to benefit from programs of the national government.

“The people’s interest has always been my priority as gleaned from the work I have done for the past 20 years, not only in legislation but also in ensuring that the laws I crafted are implemented effectively and the programs are adequately funded. We will even work harder to deliver and implement programs for the betterment of the lives of the Ilocanos and all the Filipino people,” Legarda said.

“Nagawa na po nating mailapit sa tao ang mga benepisyo at programang para sa kanila sa loob ng dalawampung taon nating panunungkulan. Nagawa din po nating iangat ang buhay ng aking mga kasimanwa sa probinsya ng Antique, sa loob lamang ng humigit kumulang na tatlong taon. Nagawa na po natin noon, ginagawa na po natin ngayon, at kung inyong mamarapatin ay patuloy po nating gagawin sa mga susunod na taon para sa ating sama-samang pagbangon at pag-unlad,” Legarda concluded.***