Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc pledged a “safer and stronger” province during his inaugural address, which he delivered after he took his oath of office on June 27, at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.
Three-term Ilocos Norte Governor, now Senator, Imee R. Marcos, administered his oath, as he was surrounded by family members who served as witnesses.
“Almost three years have passed since I took my oath as your Governor. In that same year, we found our Province ravaged by a Tropical Storm and not long after we were confronted by a pandemic like no other. But we have come a long, long way since then,” he remarked.
In 2019, Ilocos Norte recorded over Php 1.1 billion in damage after Tropical Storm “Ineng” battered the province. Meanwhile, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive blow across all sectors across the world.
Implying the “safer and stronger” core message of the address that he delivered earlier this year, Gov. Marcos Manotoc again stressed the importance of increasing various forms of investments to enliven and boost Ilocos Norte’s two economic powerhouses, agriculture and tourism.
Moreover, his initiatives for these sectors are in consonance with continuing programs of the Provincial Government in trade and livelihood, the health system, high-impact infrastructure, the youth population, and education, among others.
“Safer and stronger. You have bestowed upon me an overwhelming mandate to continue to lead our beloved Province. For that, I deeply and sincerely thank you.
I pledge to you today to continue to listen to you. To continue to make decisions based on what you need. And together, with a hopeful resolve, we shall steer our beloved Province towards equitable and sustainable growth,” Gov. Marcos Manotoc said, highlighting his consultative style of governance.
Gov. Marcos Manotoc won his second term after recording an overwhelming victory in this year’s poll.－PGIN-CMO
