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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Magbigay kayo': Leviste tells politicians, contractors to help country by 'giving up more wealth'

'Magbigay kayo': Leviste tells politicians, contractors to help country by 'giving up more wealth'

Published Nov 13, 2025 03:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has called on his fellow politicians and even contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) "to give up more of their wealth" for the benefit of Filipinos.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has called on his fellow politicians and even contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) "to give up more of their wealth" for the benefit of Filipinos.
"Given the issues facing our country now, I believe that it would be timely for more politicians and DPWH contractors to voluntarily give up more of their wealth to help solve our country’s problems,” Leviste said in a statement Thursday, Nov. 13.
He is urging the politicians and contractors to cough up donations "regardless of its source".
Typhoons "Tino" and "Uwan" recently plowed through Philippines and left many communities submerged in floodwater. This further magnified the DPWH flood control projects corruption scandal, which Leviste has very strong opinions about.
In the same statement, the 32-year-old billionaire businessman-turned-congressman bared that he donated ₱6 billion worth of shares and proceeds from the share sales of his company, Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation to help underprivileged Filipino students and typhoon victims.
But Leviste said he won't stop there, as he vowed to "eventually give away all of his wealth".
“To be rich in the Philippines is like winning the lottery, and I believe the rich have a moral obligation to share what we have with our countrymen,” Leviste, son of Senator Loren Legarda, said.
“I hope that an increasing number of wealthy Filipinos will see that it is better to give away their wealth to the less privileged than to leave so much behind for their children, following the example of philanthropists like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates,” he added.
Meralco bought Leviste's controlling stake at Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation for around P34 billion in 2024.
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