Senatorial candidate Luis "Manong Chavit" Singson recalled how he transformed Ilocos Sur from a neglected province with a struggling economy into one of the nation’s most prosperous regions.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including near-death experiences, these hardships fueled his determination to uplift his community.

“Our province was very poor back then. Our municipality was dilapidated, and there was no business. It was one of the poorest, but now we are one of the wealthiest provinces in the entire country,” he said during a speech at a gathering with Mayor Frederick W. Siao and barangay captains.

Manong Chavit’s vision for national progress is rooted in his own experience overcoming adversity. He spoke passionately about his plans to establish economic zones that would attract investors, create jobs, and drive long-term growth.

However, he expressed frustration with the bureaucratic hurdles that have hindered similar projects in the Philippines. This led him to expand his initiatives abroad, including the creation of two successful economic zones in South Korea.

“I cannot set up economic zones here, so I built them in Korea. One of them is for electric vehicles. Everything is in Korea; I have two economic zones there. So whatever I’m doing there, I will also do here to create more jobs,” he explained, his tone pragmatic yet resolute in his commitment to bringing progress home.

In addition to economic zones, Manong Chavit introduced initiatives like VBank, a digital financial platform aimed at promoting financial inclusion, and Chavit 500, an initiative that offers a P500 monthly stipend to unemployed Filipinos and those earning below minimum wage. The program aims to ease financial struggles and provide support to vulnerable sectors, empowering them to cover basic needs or explore livelihood opportunities.

Ultimately, the senatorial candidate expressed confidence that the strategies that revitalized Ilocos Sur can be applied to bring similar progress to the entire nation.