SAN JOSE, Antique – Lone district representative Loren Legarda presented her priority legislative agenda during her first ever State of the District Address (SODA) held recently in this capital town.
“As the first woman representative of our dear province and the first Antiqueño Deputy Speaker, I am truly humbled and I considered this opportunity to report to you a huge and bold step in our journey together,” Legarda told the Antiqueño present during the event at EBJ Gym in Binirayan Sports Center.
She reiterated her vision and mark this year as the start of the Golden Age for the Province of Antique.
Legarda also called her SODA a “district conversation” as she envisioned the province as inclusively progressive, peaceful and orderly, resilient and sustainable, a province that empowers the vulnerable and dispossessed, which stands as a responsible steward of its environment and proudly respects its rich historical and cultural heritage that defines its unique identity.
Upon her assumption as the province’s representative to the 18th Congress, Legarda filed 10 priority bills such as House Bill (HB) No. 631 that sought to amend Republic Act (RA) 8759 or the Public Employment Service Office Act (PESO).
Under the proposed measure, every barangay will have its own PESO to facilitate employment at the local level.
Other proposed bills include HB 632 for the creation of Northern Antique Protected Seascape and Landscape Act which will cover the municipalities Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi and Tibiao.
HB 633 proposed for the creation of Antique High School for the Arts. This bill sought to ensure that the exceptional talents of young and talented Antiquenos are recognized, developed and nurtured.
A parallel measure, HB 634 was also filed to create a Department of Culture to attend to our cultural heritage and responding to our cultural needs.
The other bills that Cong. Legarda filed are culture and heritage- related seeking to install culture and the arts, history and traditions in the altar of our identity as Filipinos.
HB No. 636 which provides for the development and protection of the Philippines’ handloom and weaving industry, HB NO. 638 – to institutionalize the Philippines participation in the international exhibitions of the Venice Bianele and HB No 639 which protects and strengthens the indigenous peoples and local communities declared conserved and protected areas.
As a strong advocate of the environment, Legarda has also filed HB. 635 which sought to regulate the manufacturing, importation and use of single plastic products and HB 637 which promotes for food forest gardening to make our communities self-sustaining.
She has also filed HB 640, an anti-discrimination bill based on SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
These and other numerous accomplishments and development plans Legarda shared with the Antiquenos during her SODA also aims to fulfill a promise to take on the challenge to put Antique in the list of progressive provinces in the country.
“Every Antiqueno deserves no less than the just reward of our honest labors”, she said. (With a report from Antique PIA/PN)
