Legarda pushes for economic, social, infra dev’t in Davao Region

Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda speaks before Davaoeños at a UniTeam’s campaign sortie in Carmen, Davao del Norte on Wednesday, March 30.

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant Loren Legarda vowed to push for legislation that will help provide employment, livelihood, education, health assistance, and infrastructure development in the Davao region once re-elected to the Senate.

The former three-term senator presented  her platforms to Davaoeños on Wednesday at UniTeam’s campaign sortie in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro,  stressing that the country must have a comprehensive solution to the complex problems caused by the pandemic.

“We must acknowledge that the right pathway to a better normal or pandemic recovery is through economic empowerment, which can only be achieved if we invest in the country’s economic, social, environmental, and infrastructure development through a multi-sectoral collaboration,” Legarda said..

Legarda said employment and livelihood should make up the most effective exit plan from the pandemic.

As then chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda ensured funding for the Barangay Kabuhayan Skills Training Program (BKSTP), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which have benefited thousands of Dabawenyo trainees since 2017.

Legarda also expanded the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Davao City and the five Davao provinces.

Legarda also helped facilitate the delivery of essential services in the region, especially those in far-flung areas. She allocated funds for the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) project that paved the way for the construction of Tagum Fly Over in Tagum City and Montevista-DNAS Road in Compostela Valley, now known as Davao de Oro.

Legarda also sourced funding for the improvement and rehabilitation of the Bunawan and Buhangin District Halls in Davao City and the construction of a new building that houses the Social Services and Development Office in the same city.

Underscoring the need to invest in quality education, the former senator also secured funding to construct multi-purpose buildings in Compostela Valley State College in Montevista, New Bataan, Maragusan, and Compostela Main Campus.

To sustain the preservation of culture and history in the Davao Region, Legarda allocated funds for constructing the National Museum in Davao City. She also funded the construction of the Mandaya language marker in Mati, Davao Oriental.

Moreover, as patron of Hibla ng Lahing Filipino, the country’s first permanent textile gallery, Legarda has provided a venue for the Mandayas from Barangay Sangab, Davao Oriental, to showcase their skills, culture, and heritage in a weaving demonstration in the National Museum.

Legarda also supported the local textile industry by providing stable income to members of the country’s textile communities. Among the weaving communities that Legarda supported is the Eman Handweavers Association from Bansalan, Davao del Sur, which received assistance to establish a Natural Dyeing Facility. The Tribal Women Weavers Association, also from Bansalan, received assistance to establish a Regional Handloom Weaving Innovation Center.

Legarda also principally authored the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 (ENIPAS), which paved the way for more extensive protection and effective preservation of the remaining protected areas in the country.

This includes the Aliwagwag Protected Landscape in Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro, the Mati Protected Landscape, and Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape, both in Davao Oriental.

/MUF