Iloilo leaders back Loren Legarda

Iloilo City Lone District Representative Jam Baronda and City Mayor Jerry Treñas endorse Loren Legarda for Senator.

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial Candidate Loren Legarda gained the endorsement of Iloilo officials headed by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

According to Defensor, Legarda is worthy of Ilonggo votes for all the help she had provided to the neighboring province, especially during the pandemic when she continued to extend aid even during her term as Representative of the Lone District of Antique.

“Loren Legarda is an outstanding Senator in terms of advocacy and quality of legislation that she has done for the past 20 years as a public servant. Let us support her to be able to serve and provide continuous help to Iloilo,” Defensor said.

Iloilo City Lone District Representative Jam Baronda, together with City Mayor Jerry Treñas, also announced their support for Legarda, citing that she has always been the pride of Western Visayas and with the programs and laws she created for the Filipino people’s welfare, such as providing livelihood and job opportunities, an affordable healthcare system, quality education, and environmental preservation, Legarda deserves to be back in the Senate.

In recent years, Legarda ensured that national government programs reached more beneficiaries from Iloilo through the programs she has supported, including the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Worker (TUPAD) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda with Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

She likewise pushed for the allocation of funds for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Barangay Kabuhayan Skills Training Program (BKSTP), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) in several districts and municipalities in Iloilo such as in Anilao, Bingawan, Duenas, Guimbal, San Rafael, among others.

The three-term Senator also allocated funds, under the Department of Agriculture, for the construction of farm-to-market roads such as in the municipalities of Maasin, San Joaquin, Sta. Barbara, Ajuy, Pototan, Carles, Duenas, Zarraga, New Lucena, Balasan, Calinog, and Barotac Nuevo.

Moreover, Legarda also allotted funds for the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) from 2018 to date, under the Department of Health (DOH), for the West Visayas State University Western Visayas Medical Center.

“I’ve been a public servant since 1998, and the unwavering love and support of Ilonggos gave me so much inspiration. All the time I ran for a national post, they gave me strong support in terms of votes and consistently placed me in the top rankings of senatorial candidates. Kaya naman I always tell myself na I should return the love and support they always give me,” Legarda said in a previous statement.

“As I hopefully return to the Senate, sisiguraduhin ko na patuloy pong mararamdaman at mapapakinabangan ng mga Ilonggo ang mga proyekto at programa ng gobyerno, gaya ng nais ko para sa lahat ng probinsya sa ating bansa. There’s so much more to do and I hope that Ilonggos Will help me continue serving the Filipino people.”

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