Officials Vow Progress In Caraga

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines - Officials from the local government and line agencies of the national government have vowed to uplift the living condition of the residents of Caraga Region 13 by unifying their plans and resources to promote food security, entrepreneurship, road infrastructure, tourism, human resources, and peace and order.

They made the pledge during the 17th founding anniversary of the region at the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) last Friday.

Caraga Region is known as the "Land of the Brave and Fierce People" with a population of 2,293,480 people. It was created in 1995 through Republic Act No. 7901 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos. The region originally comprised the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur and the cities of Surigao, Bislig and the region's capital city of Butuan, and 70 municipalities and 1, 346 barangays.

Because of its growing economy, Caraga Region added three new cities and province - the cities of Cabadbaran, Bayugan and Tandag and newly created Dinagat Islands Province.

The region's new battlecry is "Ensuring food security through sustainable resource utilization."

The new chairperson of the powerful Regional Development Council (RDC-13), Gov. Sol F. Matugas challenged all members of the council and other local officials and regional directors to exploit the vast natural resources of the region and its mushrooming tourism and agricultural sites.

"We must continue to exploit the road to excellence and we must take advantage of the wealth that we have," Matugas said in her message during the luncheon celebration here.