CA confirms Estrella as DAR Secretary

DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III during his confirmation with the Commission on Appointments (CA). (Screen grab from Senate of the Philippines)

The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, confirmed the ad interim appointment of Conrado M. Estrella III as Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairperson of the Commission on Appointments, presided over the 7th plenary session of the CA in the 1st regular session of the 19th Congress.

“I pledged that I shall not be an armchair executive. I shall bring government closer to the people,” Estrella earlier said during the CA committee on agrarian reform hearing.

The CA received expressions and manifestations of support and did not receive any opposition to Estrella’s confirmation.

Senators Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher “Bong” Go, Francis Tolentino, and Allan Peter Cayetano; Congressmen Ramon Guico, Jr., Rodante Marcoleta, Johnny Pimentel, Jose Gay Padiernos, Albert Garcia, Greg Gasataya, and Manuel Jose Dalipe expressed their support for the confirmation of Estrella’s appointment.

DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III during his confirmation with the Commission on Appointments (CA). (Screen grab from Senate of the Philippines)

Estrella is an AB history and political science graduate with a Master's degree in Development Management.

He first served as a provincial board member at the age of 19 and was Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform from 1980-1985.

Estrella was elected to the House of Representatives from 1987 to 2010, representing Pangasinan's 6th District. In the 8th Congress, he was one of the youngest elected representatives at the age of 26. During this time, he became an active member of the Committee on Agrarian Reform.

Among the bills, he filed include proposals to strengthen the resiliency of farmers against climate change, improve the financing system for farmers and fisherfolk, and establish "instructional gardening programs" in all elementary and secondary schools in the Philippines.

In 2013, he became the party-list representative of Abono, succeeding his brother Robert Raymond Estrella. As the representative of the Abono party list, he ensured that the needs of those in the agricultural sector are not neglected.

CA kinumpirma si Estrella bilang DAR Secretary

Kinumpirma ng Commission on Appointments (CA) noong Martes, Setyembre 27, 2022, ang ad interim appointment ni Conrado M. Estrella III bilang Kalihim ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Pinangunahan ni Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairperson ng Commission on Appointments, ang 7th plenary session ng CA sa 1st regular session ng 19th Congress.

“Nangangako ako na hindi ako magiging executive armchair. Ilalapit ko ang gobyerno sa mga tao,” ani Estrella sa mga miyembro ng komite.

Nauna nang nakatanggap ang CA ng mga pagpapahayag at pagpapakita ng suporta, at walang natanggap na anumang pagtutol para sa kumpirmasyon ng pagtatalaga ni Estrella.

Nagpahayag ng suporta sina Senators Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher “Bong” Go, Francis Tolentino, at Allan Peter Cayetano; Congressman Ramon Guico, Jr., Rodante Marcoleta, Johnny Pimentel, Jose Gay Padiernos, Albert Garcia, Greg Gasataya, at Manuel Jose Dalipe sa kumpirmasyon ng appointment ni Estrella.

Si Estrella III ay nagtapos ng kursong AB history at political science na may Masters degree sa Development Management.

Una siyang nagsilbi bilang provincial board member sa edad na 19 at naging

Tagapangulo ng Committee on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform mula 1980-1985.

Nahalal si Estrella sa House of Representatives mula 1987 hanggang 2010, bilang kinatawan 6th District ng Pangasinan. Sa 8th Congress, isa siya sa pinakabatang nahalal na kinatawan sa edad na 26. Sa panahong ito, naging aktibong miyembro siya ng Committee on Agrarian Reform.

Kabilang sa mga panukalang batas na inihain niya ang mga panukalang palakasin ang katatagan ng mga magsasaka laban sa pagbabago ng klima, pagpapabuti ng sistema ng pananalapi para sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda, at pagtatatag ng "instructional gardening programs" sa lahat ng elementarya at sekondaryang paaralan sa Pilipinas.

Noong 2013, naging party-list representative siya ng Abono, kapalit ng kanyang kapatid na si Robert Raymond Estrella. Bilang kinatawan ng Abono party-list, tiniyak niyang hindi napapabayaan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga nasa sektor ng agrikultura.