Loren Legarda gets One Bangsamoro Movement support

By: Jan V. Escosio - 3 years ago

Senatorial Candidate Loren Legarda (File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — One Bangsamoro Movement (1 BANGSA) named senatorial aspirant Loren Legarda as one of the candidates they support in the upcoming May 9 Elections.

According to a press release published by 1 BANGSA on Monday, as the Muslim community celebrates the end of 2022 Ramadan, Bangsamoro Filipinos all over the world praise government officials who supported the inclusion of the Muslim minority in the country.

They also stressed that the present administration had made positive changes for the Bangsamoro community, including the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the passage of RA 11696, the Marawi Compensation Act, that Legarda both co-authored.

Although, they still emphasized that the completion of the plights and aspirations of the Muslim minority and addressing them is far from over. They further stated, “We need leaders in the upper chamber whom we can trust and rely upon.”

That is why the 1 BANGSA leaders and its 1 million members, the formed alliances of the Muslim youth organizations, and the force of the diverse Muslim Traders Associations in the country said they support Legarda’s senate bid along with other 11 senatorial candidates.

Three-term Senator Legarda has long supported Muslim communities. She also co-authored RA 9996 creating the Mindanao Development Authority a permanent body that will integrate and harmonize all peace and development efforts in Mindanao, and allow it to catch up to mainstream national development; R.A. 9177, or the Eid’l Fitr Law, which decreed that the first day of Shawwal as a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Fitr; and she principally authored R.A. 9849 that further decreed the tenth day of Zhul Hijja as a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha, among others.

As the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda also allotted P10 billion in the 2018 General Appropriations Act under the NDRRM Fund for the quick recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi City. Whereas, to support culture and heritage preservation, Legarda initiated projects such as the establishment of Yakan Village in Zamboanga, the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center in Mindanao State University, weaving centers, and schools of living traditions all over the region.