DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, in his capacity as the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 1, pledges to ensure that no municipality is left behind. This commitment was emphasized during the 1st Quarter RDC-1 Full Council Meeting CY 2024, where Regional Director Maria Ana B. Francisco delivered his message in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
“As the CORDS of Region I, I will assure you that no municipality will be left behind. I commit to doing whatever it is in my power to ensure that everyone gets their share of the fruits in our efforts towards socio-economic progress, as I know that every Ilokano gives theirs,” Secretary Estrella III affirmed.
His leadership at DAR has yielded significant achievements, including liberating farmers from debt and providing vital support services to uplift their livelihoods.
“At the DAR, we help our farmers by freeing them from debt – gone are the days when they had to pay for the lands that they till. With the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, farmers are given the first step to breaking free from the vicious cycle of poverty,” Secretary Estrella III emphasized.
Furthermore, he highlighted the implementation of a network of farm-to-market roads as part of his nine-point agenda, fostering greater connectivity between agrarian reform communities (ARCs) and markets.
“Part of my nine-point agenda is building a network of farm-to-market roads that will connect agrarian reform communities to the market. We have made this dream a reality. In 2023, we have implemented a total of 106 FMR projects across the Ilocos Region, with a combined cost of ₱774 billion. This 2024, we are expecting more to come. With these programs, we at the DAR, bring the government closer to the people.,”
Moreover, Secretary Estrella III expressed confidence in the Regional Development Council’s (RDC) ability to facilitate government outreach to the people.
“I believe that we at the RDC can bring the government closer to the people, too,” he remarked.
Under the leadership of Ilocos Norte Governor Hon. Matthew J. Marcos Manotoc, the RDC Region 1 continues to steer socio-economic development initiatives in the region. Despite challenges posed by climate disruptions, as detailed in the Regional Development Report (RDR) for 2023, Region 1 remains steadfast in meeting its developmental targets, a testament to good governance.
(Source: DAR – Ilocos Region – Region 1 Facebook page)
