Legarda accepts PNoy senatorial slate

By: Christopher Emmanuel M. Tigno

Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda has accepted President Benigno Aquino’s invitation to be a part of the Liberal Party/National People’s Coalition/Nacionalista Party coalition in the midterm elections.

“I am accepting the personal invitation of the President to be part of the LP coalition as the NPC nominee in the slate because of the need for principled cooperation among leaders,” Legarda said. “The present administration, in the next three years, has the capacity to achieve the development gains that the people deserve… I trust that this cooperation will allow us to advance our shared advocacies with a sense of urgency,” she added.

The LP and NPC, Legarda’s party since 2007, signed a partnership agreement. Loren has also been adopted by the UNA as a guest candidate earlier.

“My loyalty is to the people who entrust their future to me, which are the biggest responsibility I bear and I want to fulfill every day,” Legarda said.

“At the end of the day, I will be judged based on my track record, not so much on the political affiliation especially in a multiparty system like ours. It’s not about me… this election is about the people and their deliverance from poverty, corruption, and disasters.”

On the filing of her Certificate of Candidacy for the 2013 elections, Legarda said that she will focus on her green advocacy in her senatorial bid.

“I will continue to spearhead tree-growing activities, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation workshops for local leaders and stakeholders, information and education campaign for the youth and green job fairs,” Legarda stressed.

Legarda has championed in the passage of laws and promotion of environment advocacies, including the 

Solid Waste Management Law, Clean Air Act, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and Climate Change Act. She also pushed for bills concerning women and children such as the Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act, Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Child Labor Law, and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.