SENATORIAL COMEBACK. Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda speaks before the crowd during her start of her campaign at the Lieberman Gymnasium in the Municipality of Pandan on Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2022). Legarda is currently serving her first term as congresswoman of the lone district of Antique. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Antique Lone District Representative Loren Legarda has spelled out her priorities should she get elected in the Senate this May 2022 elections.
Legarda is one of the senatorial candidates of the UniTeam of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Speaking before political leaders of Antique at the Lieberman Gymnasium during the start of her campaign in the municipality of Pandan on Tuesday, Legarda said she would like to ensure that the target recipients of the One Tablet, One Student Act of 2021 will get their needed gadget.
The law, which she authored, stands to benefit around 26 million learners nationwide attending online classes amid this health pandemic.
She also looked into amending the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Law to be implemented down to the barangay level to assist job seekers through job matching.
Legarda also vowed to work out for additional funds for the implementation of Republic Act 9501 or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Law so more entrepreneurs could be provided with assistance and livelihood opportunities.
“I would like to ensure the effective implementation and fund allocation for the other laws that I had sponsored,” she said.
During the event, political leaders in the province also expressed their full support of Legarda’s senatorial bid.
"With prayer and love, the Antiqueños support the senatorial bid of Congresswoman Legarda," said Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, in her message, adding that Legarda is the pride of Antique having served as a senator and congresswoman.
Board Member Noel Alamis said Legarda has been a blessing to Antique given the projects that she poured into her home province.
He particularly mentioned the improvements at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH), which is the provincial hospital located here, and the construction of the Molecular Laboratory to conduct RT-PCR test now that there is a pandemic.
Alamis composed two campaign jingles for the senatorial candidate.
Pandan Mayor Plaridel Sanchez said it is a great honor that Legarda chose to start her campaign in their municipality as he urged all his constituents to show their support.
Legarda assured the Antiquenos that she would never leave them but ready to serve the nation once elected.
"I am forever grateful to you," she said, addressing her fellow Antiqueños.
Legarda said she chose to kickstart her campaign in Pandan where she also took her first oath as a senator in 1998.
Legarda is a resident of Barangay Mag-aba, Pandan. (PNA)
