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By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter
CALUYA, Antique: GO senatorial
candidate Loren Legarda said on Wednesday that this coastal
municipality boasting of white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters
can become the next Boracay because of its great tourism potential.
As the town’s guest of honor in
its celebration of the annual Tatusan Festival, Legarda took time
out from her hectic campaign schedule to frolic in the beach with
children and her supporters.
Legarda vowed to help her
province mates in Antique, as well as the entire nation, grow
economically if she gets elected anew to the Senate in May. Legarda
and her late mother, Bessie, trace their roots to Antique.
“I will be a senator of the
people, thus I will help the whole province and whole Panay region
regardless of party affiliation,” she said.
Besides Caluya, Legarda said
other tourist destinations in Antique could be developed, including
the islands of Nogas, Hurao-Hurao and Malalison, which have long
stretches of white-sand beaches.
She added that Mount Madi-as, a
dormant volcano touted to be the legendary home of the supreme god
of the ancients known as Bulalakaw, could challenge sports tourists,
including hikers and trekkers, being Panay’s highest peak.
However, Legarda stressed that
the eco-system of Antique should be preserved and protected against
activities that result in pollution, lamenting an oil spill off the
shore of Semirara Island that reportedly contaminated mangrove
forests, seaweed farms and fish sanctuaries.
“We must realize the full
agricultural, commercial and tourism potential of Antique so we can
uplift the lives of Antiqueños,” said Legarda.
“But in all of these, we should
always endeavor to protect the environment,” said Legarda, who was
awarded by the United Nations in Turin, Italy, in 2001 for her
environmental work.
She urged the government to
support Antique’s industries that include production of muscovado,
a special kind of brown sugar known for its health benefits, and
weaving indigenous fabrics like piña.
Legarda thanked Antiqueños for
supporting her in the 1998 senatorial election, which she topped
with over 15 million votes, and in the 2004 vice-presidential
election.
“I’m at home in Antique and I
always yearn to come back here,” she said.
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