President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to further develop Caraga as he personally thanked the residents in the region for supporting him in his presidential bid and the government’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign.
President Marcos Jr. visited Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur on Friday where he led several programs, building upon the efforts done by his late father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., for the region.
In his speech during the distribution of the land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), President Marcos assured his administration will pursue development programs for the betterment in the Caraga region.
“Andirito ako ngayon upang magbigay ng aking matibay na garantiya, na sa Bagong Pilipinas, ito ang ating puspusang gagawin: Develop Dinagat. Sulong Surigao. Abante Agusan. Hindi lang po ng pamahalaan pero nating lahat,” he said.
Stressing that the region is one of the areas in the country with rich resources, President Marcos said it is a shared responsibility to ensure that the future generation will reap its benefits.
“I make that vow because as a region rich in resources, you do not only deserve it. Above all it, is a shared responsibility we to owe our children, a deliverable to the next generation that we cannot fail,” President Marcos said.
“For me, it is a burden that I carry as the son of a leader who never wavered in the belief in the potentials of this region, and who worked hard to unlock that potential,” he added.
It was under the leadership of the elder Marcos that some modern roads in Mindanao, including the one traversing from Surigao City to Davao and Butuan City to Cagayan de Oro City were developed, according to the chief executive.
He said he wished to achieve the aspirations of his late father for the farmers through agrarian reforms.
“Mayroon ding mga ipinaglaban ang aking ama na dapat nating tapusin at ‘yan ang agrarian reform,” the President said.
“Agrarian reform remains an unrealized dream because the emancipation of farmers does not end with the receipt of titles declaring ownership over the land they are already tilling. They must be unshackled from debt, freed from high cost of inputs, and relieved of constraints that impoverish them,” he said.
Among events the President attended were the distribution of e-land titles and Certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs), ceremonial turnover of farm machinery and equipment and ribbon cutting of farm-to-market road (FMR) markers.
The President distributed a total of 3,184 land titles covering 4,659.28 hectares were distributed to 2,769 ARBs from the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.
The President also distributed a total of 70 farm machinery and equipment, amounting PhP8.91 million to 11 identified ARB organizations and one cooperative.
Additionally, eight FMRs, which span 10.367 kilometers located in the towns of Cagwait, Madrid, Carmen, Tago, San Miguel, and Barobo in Surigao del Sur, were ceremonially turned over as well, with a total cost of PhP194.41 million. PND
