Senator Legarda named Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow

Senator Loren Legarda has been named the 83rd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, becoming the fifth Filipino to receive the honor since the Fellowship was established in 1991.

The Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship is a private, non-political, and non-profit organization created to honor Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

The Fellowship invites global leaders whose work advances national development and fosters international goodwill, offering them a platform to exchange ideas and strengthen cooperation between Singapore and their respective countries.

Legarda visited Singapore as part of her official Fellowship engagement, which included a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong.

She also delivered a public lecture at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in collaboration with its Philippine Studies Programme and Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme.

Her itinerary also included meetings with senior Singaporean officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Trade Relations Grace Fu.

“I am deeply honored to join a distinguished roster of leaders who have contributed to national progress and international goodwill,” Legarda said.

“This Fellowship is an opportunity to exchange ideas on governance, sustainability, and resilience.”

“I carry with me the stories of the Filipino people, and I look forward to learning from Singapore’s vision while also sharing our own experiences in climate action and cultural resilience.”

A four-term senator, Legarda is widely recognized as one of the country’s foremost advocates for the environment, climate action, cultural preservation, and resilience.

Through the Fellowship, she is expected to participate in high-level dialogues on sustainable development, education, regional cooperation, and climate resilience.

Her engagement aims to contribute to ASEAN’s sustainability agenda and further strengthen the Philippines-Singapore partnership. (PR)