Leandro Legarda Leviste, the country’s youngest self-made billionaire and founder of Solar Philippines, filed his certificate of candidacy on October 8 2024 for the position of Batangas 1st District Representative.
Son of 4-term Senator Loren Legarda, Leandro Legarda Leviste has committed to prioritize the development of the economy of the 1st District, the most underdeveloped district in Batangas. The 1st District consists of the municipalities of Nasugbu, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Balayan, Lemery, Taal, and the city of Calaca.
Legarda Leviste, 31, has been recognized by Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg and Ernst & Young as a pioneer in the renewable energy industry of the Philippines. Solar Philippines, and its publicly listed unit, SPNEC, have developed solar power projects across the country, having completed the first solar power plant in Batangas in Calatagan in 2016.
He is also an investor in Nasugbu’s Central Azucarera, the second largest shareholder of ABS-CBN Corporation after the Lopez family, and the youngest CEO to take a company public in the history of the Philippine Stock Exchange. Legarda Leviste’s supporters have cited his business acumen and success prior to entering politics as reasons why they believe that he can make significant contributions in Congress and for the 1st District of Batangas.
On October 8 2024, approximately 35,000 supporters from the 8 towns of the 1st District converged upon the campaign’s official launch in Nasugbu and meetings in Taal and Batangas City. The past week saw a signature campaign to convince Legarda Leviste to run for 1st District Representative – led by the families of former 1st District Representative Dong Apacible and former 1st District Representative Eduardo Ermita – with more than 150,000 residents of the 1st District already expressing support for Legarda Leviste’s candidacy.
“Sa aking buhay at sa aking negosyo, parang tumama po ako sa lotto, at naniniwala po ako na tungkulin ko pong ibahagi ang mga naipanalo ko sa ating mga kababayan,” Legarda Leviste said at the campaign’s official launch in Nasugbu.
“Ang pangarap ko po ay sa darating na dekada ang 8 bayan ng Unang Distrito ay maging mga modernong lungsod, at ang buong Unang Distrito ay maging isang metropolis na maaring mataguriang Metro Batangas,” Legarda Leviste added.
“Our goal is for the national government to prioritize the development of the 1st District of Batangas, to bring its economy at least at par with other nearby districts of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas,” Legarda Leviste said in an interview with reporters upon filing his certificate of candidacy.
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