ANTIQUE – Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda concluded her three-day visit to her home province, Antique, on a high note, bringing hope and optimism to thousands of Antiqueños. Legarda personally led the distribution of government projects funded under her initiative, ranging from financial aid to infrastructure development, livelihood opportunities, scholarships, and innovative improvements, aiming to improve the lives of Antiqueños.
“Let us take care of human capital. Ang pinaka mahalagang asset ng ating mga kasimanwa ay ang kanilang angking talino, pagka-malikhain, sipag at determinasyon. Kaya bilang inyong Senador, ang hangarin ko ay patuloy na magbigay ng bulig para sa mas dekalidad na edukasyon, mas maunlad na kabuhayan, mas mabuting serbisyong pangkalusugan, maayos na kapaligiran, at mayaman na kultura at tradisyon,” Legarda said.
“Kung nabibigyan natin ng kasagutan ang agarang pangangailangan ng ating kasimanwa ay nabibigyan din natin ng pagkakataon na bumangon sa kahirapan at umunlad ang kanilang buhay kasabay ng pag-unlad ng ating probinsya,” Legarda added.
The four-term Senator was warmly welcomed at the University of Antique in Sibalom, where together with Lone District of Antique Congressman AA Legarda, Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretaries Jeffrey Ian Dy and Paul Joseph Mercado, and UA President Dr. Pablo Crespo, they activated the Broadband ng Masa project funded through the Senator’s initiative.
Legarda, the principal author of the creation of the DICT, secured 71 million pesos in funding for the WiFi project in Antique under the General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2023. This enabled the establishment of WiFi connections in 450 sites across 150 barangays in Antique, focusing on Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas, Indigenous Peoples barangays, DepEd schools, and health centers.
“Lack of information and communication will increase poverty and ignorance and will be a challenge to the economic productivity of our province. In today’s technological era, we cannot deny that technology plays a vital role in our education, livelihoods, and even our health. Lalo pa nating nadama ang kahalagahan nito sa gitna ng pandemya, kaya’t nagpursigi tayo na ang ating probinsya ay maging handa at makasabay sa mga pag-unlad sa larangan ng teknolohiya,” Legarda said.
With recommendations from her brother, now the Congressman of the Lone District of Antique, Congressman AA Legarda, regarding the need to boost the connection in the province for the use of students, and the efficient transactions in businesses and government offices, and the effectivity of the Starlink Technology in various areas, the Senator ensured that funds would be allocated for this project under DICT. Antique is among the country’s first and largest Starlink connectivity.
A ceremony was also held to inaugurate projects funded through the Senator’s initiative in UA-Sibalom. Notable projects included a maritime virtual and augmented reality laboratory, a maritime e-learning management system, and the completion of an integrated research and development laboratory. Scholarships were provided to 2,589 students of UA-Sibalom, with each scholar receiving P7,500 per semester or P15,000 per school year.
Legarda also ensured that students who did not receive scholarships would be assisted through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Educational Assistance.
On the same day, there was a distribution of various projects and assistance to the southern Antique municipalities, namely San Jose, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, Anini-y, and San Remigio held at the Antique National School Gymnasium, San Jose.
Among the projects and assistance awarded and distributed are DOLE TUPAD, DOLE Kabuhayan, DSWD AICS, health facilities and other infrastructure projects, FRP boats, wheelchairs, and TESDA tool kits and scholarships. The Senator also ensured the beneficiaries would not go hungry by providing packed lunches, lechon, and ice cream. Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars also received health kits, a personal gift from the Senator.
The kits for BHWs include sphygmomanometer with stethoscope, bathroom weighing scale, pulse oximeter, customized tumbler, and customized tote bag. Meanwhile, kits for BNS include Salter weighing scale, growth height chart, customized tumbler, and customized tote bag.
“I assure our kasimanwa that we will continue to help you and assist you even more. Kasama ang aking bugto na si Congressman AA Legarda, ipagpapatuloy natin ang Legarda brand of leadership, may malasakit, tapat, walang napag-iiwanan at para sa kaaraydan ng kasimanwa lamang,”Legarda concluded./PN
