Explanation of the affirmative vote on House Bill 9468

By: Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda

Mr. President, Good public service is defined by accessibility, efficiency, transparency, and convenience. With this in mind, I cast my affirmative vote in support of House Bill 9468, which aims to establish a district branch of the Land Transportation Office in Pandan, Antique.

Currently, my kasimanwa in Pandan, Antique, and neighboring municipalities are forced to travel up to 149 kilometers just to complete basic transactions at the LTO San Jose de Buenavista. Such a journey is not only inconvenient—it risks becoming a denial of service for those who cannot afford the time or resources to make the trip.

By establishing a district branch of the LTO in Pandan, this measure will bring essential services closer to the people—such as vehicle registration, license renewals, and other permits—saving them both time and money. Moreover, it will ease congestion at the San Jose de Buenavista office, creating a more even distribution of services throughout the province.

This bill is rooted in fairness and public convenience—core principles of public service that we have long overlooked. Needless to state, every Filipino, no matter where they live, are entitled to equal access to public services.

For these reasons, I cast my vote in favor of House Bill 9468, a measure that will bring accessible and convenient services to our kasimanwa in Antique.

Thank you, Mr. President.