Radyo Natin Town Hall Meeting with Loren Legarda

In its mission to bridge the public to vital information, Radyo Natin Nationwide launches its current affairs segment "Radyo Natin Town Hall Meeting", a Q&A segment featuring individuals vying for national positions in the upcoming May 2022 elections, moderated by homegrown anchor Cheska San Diego Bobadilla, joined by representative stations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as members of the panel.

First to participate is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and currently the congresswoman of the Lone District of Antique Loren Legarda. The three-term senator who is also a senatorial candidate this coming election graced Radyo Natin Town Hall Meeting pilot episode Friday, March 4, 2022.

Legarda answered questions presented to her by Radyo Natin stations managers from Radyo Natin San Jose, Antique, Radyo Natin Tabuk, Kalinga, Radyo Natin Isulan and Radyo Natin Tacurong, Radyo Nation Oriental, Mindoro, Radyo Natin Naval, Biliran, and Radyo Natin Malita, Davao respectively.

Radyo Natin Town Hall Meeting was aired over 100 stations of Radyo Natin Nationwide and played online on its digital pages and radyonatin.com.

Below are the highlights discussed at the Radyo Natin Town Hall Meeting with Loren Legarda:

Ms. Carrie Viteño asked: How can you support teachers in the country if you will be elected again as a senator?

Legarda said that as Senate Committee on finance for five years and vice for two years, she augmented the chalk allowance from P1,500 to P3,500.
Also, she passed a bill that will allocate P800 million pesos as a tribute to all of the public teachers nationwide on Teacher's day which is celebrated every October 5th.

Mr. Teody Siesa asked: What are the most important projects that you have accomplished and supported in the Visayas?

Before the pandemic, Legarda said that she allocated funds for the rehabilitation of the airport in Antique and she convinced Philippine Airlines (PAL) to operate in the said airport. The senatorial candidate also said that she allocated funds for setting up Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) centers per local government units in Antique.

Radyo Natin Isulan and Radyo Natin Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
Ms. Gina Belmes asked: On being a Bai A Labi (Honorary Muslim Princess) of the Marawi Sultanate League, what are the programs that you have supported especially for the cultural communities in several parts of Mindanao?

Legarda said that she passed the Eid'ul Fitr law and Eidul Adha law. She also said that she gave tribute to the indigenous people in Mindanao by creating sustainable development for them such as creating weaving centers, giving away tools and equipment, and even documentation of their heritage and abilities so that the culture of the indigenous people will be retained.

Radyo Natin Oriental Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
Ms. Glady Mabini asked: After almost two years of battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the most effective pandemic recovery exit plan that you suggest?

The senatorial candidate said that she thinks that the best pandemic recovery exit plan is to enhance Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) because 99 percent of the Philippine economy is made of MSMEs. She also said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) "pangkabuhayan program" and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sustainable livelihood program for the 4ps family are giving out capital for livelihood which can be also helpful for the pandemic recovery exit plan.

Radyo Natin Naval, Biliran
Mr. Michael Aguilos asked: What is your recovery and contingency plan for the effects of typhoons in the country?

Legarda said that since typhoon is inevitable, she said that the country needs to be prepared by creating early warning system, not constructing houses in vulnerable zones, using hazard maps and pre-positioning of goods after the warning of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

She also said that it is also important to give weather announcement in layman's term which means that when giving early warning message on typhoons and other types of calamity, it should be done on different provincial languages so that it can be understand easily.

Radyo Natin Malita, Davao Occidental
Mr. Marciano "Ka Dote" Tampadong asked Legarda what are the platforms that she wants to establish if she will be elected again as a senator.

Legarda said that she will allocate around P80 billion for her planned project called "One tablet one student act" because it is the current necessity in the new normal. She also mentioned that she wants to improve the Universal health care law so that it can reach far flung areas.

The Radyo Natin Town Hall Meeting is open to all national candidates. The 100 Radyo Natin stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will take turns in participating as members of the panel for the Q&A portion. Intended to create a sense of belongingness and connection between national candidates and the public from 1st to 5th class municipalities nationwide, Radyo Natin is determined to fulfill its public service mandate through this program. (KBAPI)