MANILA, Philippines--Senator Loren Legarda on Friday formally declared her intention to run for vice president in the 2010 elections.

Legarda made the announcement during a press conference at the Rizal Park at the launch of her outreach program dubbed ``Lingkod Loren.??.

Her announcement came just hours after Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno withdrew his vice presidential bid under the administration's Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats tickets.

Legarda did not say who her presidential candidate would be. But even before Puno's withdrawal, some administration members were already pushing for Legarda to be the running mate of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

The senator repeatedly said, however, that she would stay with the opposition.

Legarda is a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, which is expected to endorse the presidential bid of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

?My countrymen, I have seen the depths of where we have found ourselves as a people, and like all of you, I have gotten tired of seeing ourselves mired in this predicament," she said.

"But to do nothing is the biggest sin that we could possibly commit, something that is not an option for this public servant,? she said.

Legarda said her platform of governance was anchored on a "strong anti-corruption stance, honest-to-goodness public service, and a strong commitment to help mitigate the effects of climate change."

She then identified seven "must-do" for the next administration to help address the continued problems in the country.

* government resources must be geared towards affording all Filipinos housing, sanitation, potable water, access to medicines and proper health care, education for the youth and skills training for all who can contribute as part of the labor force.

* government must recognize the contributions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by facilitating their gainful employment, providing them ample protection against abuses and by continuously upgrading their skills and knowledge.

* the new administration must crack down on corruption .

* protection of the environment and initiating of pro-active measures to address the problem of climate change and the disasters related to it.

*the government must forge genuine peace, especially in Mindanao, not only through law enforcement but through the resolution of the root causes of the conflicts in the countryside, poverty and social injustice to name a few.

*the government must always be ready to dialogue with groups engaged in the armed struggle like the New People's Army and the Moro Liberation Front.

*the Filipino culture and traits must be recognized, rejuvenated and passed on to future generations "because they are what makes Filipinos as a people unique."