Three-term Senator and senatorial candidate Loren Legarda speaks before the Liga ng mga Barangay Membership Assembly at the SMX Convention Center on Monday, March 14.
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda has relaunched an improved version of “LOREN sa Bawat Barangay” program aimed at extending government services to every barangay in the country.
“When I ran in 1998, my battle cry was ‘LOREN sa Bawat Barangay’ as a way for me to reach out to our people and understand their needs. Twenty years later, we already have laws that aim to provide employment and livelihood opportunities,” Legarda said during the Liga ng mga Barangay Membership Assembly at the SMX Convention Center on Monday.
“These laws, which I authored include the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act, and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act.”
The acronym LOREN stands for the advocacies of the legislator on Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Employment Nationwide, and Law and Order; Rights of women, children and indigenous peoples; Environment, education, and employment; and Nationalism.
The program was introduced by Legarda when she first ran during the 1998 senatorial elections.
It aims to bring together the different sectors and concerned local government agencies and harness available resources to create more employment, entrepreneurship, and development opportunities.
“As I return to the Senate, with your support and God willing, I hope to continue giving importance to the barangays. Naniniwala ako na ang pinaka-epektibong exit plan natin sa pandemyang ito ay dapat barangay-based ang ating mga programa,” Legarda said.
The three-term Senator added that she is also pushing for the amendment of the PESO law to bring PESO services closer to the barangay level and make job opportunities more accessible and easier to provide.
Legarda also included in the proposed amendment, the promotion of entrepreneurship so the people can have their own livelihood and income.
As the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda ensured that the allocation of funds for livelihood programs should benefit the people down to the grassroots.
Legarda further explained that “LOREN sa Bawat Barangay” is not only limited to employment and livelihood but also covers access to quality education and health care services, stressing that a progressive community is one where the residents are literate and healthy.
“Our laws and programs will only be effective if the implementation includes information and education campaign. Not everyone is aware of these laws and programs on livelihood and employment, and LOREN sa Bawat Barangay aims to inform our citizens that we have these laws and programs that can help them get employed, have better income, and have a secured future,” Legarda said.
“Dito po natin higit na kailangan ang tulong ng ating mga barangay officials. Nakasalalay sa inyong masigasig na pakikipag-ugnayan sa national government at sa inyong mga nasasakupan ang maayos at epektibong implementasyon ng mga batas at programang ito upang masiguro ang mabilis at sama-samang pagbangon mula sa pandemya at kahirapan.”