Imee Marcos cites Ilocos Norte growth

 COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

LAOAG CITY -- Ilocos Norte Gov.Imee Marcos formally took her third oath of office in inauguration here at Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center Tuesday.

Over 200 Ilocos Norte officials, led by Second District Rep. Imelda Marcos and Vice Gov. Eugenio Angelo Marcos Barba, attended the event.

In her speech, Gov. Marcos thanked Ilocanos for their overwhelming support since she ran for office last 2010 saying she would sustain progress in all sectors of the province.

Highlighting the efforts of her administration to address the challenges and improve the quality of Ilocano lives for the past six years, she said that her third and last term will focus on enhancing health care for senior citizens and providing free education for the youth, among others.

Under Governor Marcos’ leadership, Ilocos Norte gained recognition in agriculture, peace and security, education, social welfare and development, and infrastructure.

Ilocos Norte was also cited by the National Statistical Coordination Board as one of the least poor provinces in the Philippines since 2013.

Gov. Marcos’ commitment to public service was recognized by the Superbrands Marketing International Incorporated, an award-giving organization engaged in consumer and service products, when she was conferred the Most Outstanding Governorship Award for two consecutive years since 2015.

“Sabi ni Apo Digong Duterte, ‘change is coming’ at hindi tayo magpapahuli dito sa Ilocos Norte…Bigyan natin ng pansin ang mga sector na nakakalimutan—ang mga PWD at may kapansanan, IP natin o indigenous people, at forever minamahal, ang ating señoritas and señoritos, ang mga senior citizens! Change is coming, at dapatvhindivbarya-baryavangvtulong dito sa Ilocos Norte,” Gov. Marcos said.

She assured growth both in urban and rural areas of the province. Ending her nearly six-minute speech, Gov. Marcos called for a continuing ‘timpuyog’ or unity among Ilocanos.

“Intay’ itultuloy ti agdindinamag a timpuyog ni Ilocano tapno magun-od tayo iti panagdur-as!” (Let us continue exercising the well-known Ilocano unity in order for us to attain progress!

Some of the more recent achievements of her governance were the establishment of the Ilocos Norte Youth Office, the official Capitol department for youth affairs;  decrease in provincial poverty rate from 24% in 2010 to 8.4% in 2015; a 91.24% increase in tourist arrivals between the 2015 and 2016 Holy Week seasons; and the opening of two large business process outsourcing (BPO) companies which are providing thousands of jobs for Ilocanos: Accenture and Expert Global Solution (EGS).

                Also included in the program were the 2015 Legislative Awards and a series of recognition for the Philippine National Police (PNP) for having shown exemplar performance in maintaining peace and order during the election season, the most peaceful one ever recorded with zero shooting incidents.— Jennifer T. Pambid and Mizpah Grace G. Castro