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The event was attended by more than 8,000 audience, comprised of
provincial officials, local chief executives, representatives from national
government agencies, non-government organizations, barangay officials, sectoral
representatives, and leaders from various communities.
In his address, Manotoc began by acknowledging the challenges
posed by the recent onslaught of super typhoon "Julian," which caused
widespread devastation across the province. Despite this, he emphasized the
resilience of the Ilokano people, stating:
"It is during our most challenging moments that we prove to
you that we are a provincial government you can depend on. Sa gitna ng kalamidad, matatag ang mga Ilokano. Naandurtayo!”
As the address progressed, Manotoc placed a strong emphasis on
calling Ilokanos abroad to return and invest in their homeland.
He stated, "We need all Ilokanos in fields such as
healthcare, engineering, academe, entrepreneurship, hospitality, information
technology, and agriculture. To all my fellow Ilokanos, may you reconnect with
your roots, share your expertise, and invest in our people to contribute to the
growth of our province."
He highlighted significant achievements, including advancements
in agriculture, economic growth, infrastructure development, improved
healthcare facilities, environmental sustainability, and a thriving tourism
sector.
Manotoc also underscored the importance of unity and
collaboration in driving progress, saying, "To all my fellow Ilokanos
across the globe, I call upon you to come back home. Now is the time for us to
return to our roots. Now is the time to invest in our people and develop our
economy. Now is our time."
The governor expressed his deep gratitude to the secretaries of
various national government agencies, regional directors, and department heads
of the provincial government for their support in implementing programs that
uplift the lives of the people of Ilocos Norte.
Moreover, he challenged the Ilokano community, stating, “Let us
build our economy to be ready for the future. Let us build the Ilocos Norte we
dream of. Let us build the Ilocos Norte that will take care of our children and
their children.”
Ending his speech, Manotoc expressed heartfelt appreciation,
saying, “I thank you for granting me the greatest honor of my life: to serve
you and our almost 610,000 kakailian.
It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. My dearest kakailian in
Ilocos Norte, simmangbayen, ti
narimrimat, a masakbayan! (Mariell J.
Pahinag)
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