Estrella III follows grandfather’s footsteps as DAR chief

Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III.

Appointed by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., former House Deputy Speaker Conrado M. Estrella III, is now the next Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the same post held by his grandfather, Conrado F. Estrella Sr., during the elder Marcos’ administration.

Estrella III is not new to government service. As an AB history and political science graduate, he continued the legacy of his grandfather Estrella Sr., and his father former congressman Robert M. Estrella Jr. of being a civil servant.

He first served as a provincial board member and was Chairman of the Committee on 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 representative at age 26. During this time, he became an active member of the Committee on Agrarian Reform.

In Congress, his priority was to help the grievances of farmers. He authored more than 90 measures in the 18th Congress.

Among the bills he filed in the last three years 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.

As the country re-emerges under the leadership of President Ferdninand Marcos, Jr., Secretary Estrella III will continue to push for real change in agrarian reform.

Conrado Masonsong Estrella III was born on September 12, 1960. He is married to Sandra Romero-Estrella and has four children, Maria Sergia Susana, Conrado Andrew IV, Albert and Gilbert.

Estrella III sumunod sa yapak ng kanyang lolo bilang pinuno ng DAR

Itinalaga ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., si dating House Deputy Speaker Conrado M. Estrella III, ang kasalukuyang Kalihin ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), ang parehong posisyon na hawak ng kanyang lolo na si Conrado F. Estrella Sr., sa panahon ng administrasyon ng nakatatandang Marcos.

Hindi na bago sa pagsisilbi sa bayan si Estrella III. Bilang nagtapos sa kanyang kursong AB history at political science, ipinagpatuloy niya ang pamana ng kanyang lolo na si Estrella Sr., at ng kanyang ama na dating kongresista na si Robert M. Estrella Jr. ng pagiging isang kawani ng pamahalaan.

Una siyang nagsilbi bilang provincial board member at naging Chairman ng Committee on Agrarian Reform mula 1980-1985.

Nahalal si Estrella sa Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan mula 1987 hanggang 2010, na kumakatawan sa Ika-6 na Distrito ng Pangasinan. Sa ika-walong Kongreso, isa siya sa pinakabatang nahalal na kinatawan sa edad na 26. Sa panahong ito, naging aktibong miyembro siya ng Committee on Agrarian Reform.

Sa Kongreso, prayoridad niya ang pagtulong sa mga hinaing ng mga magsasaka. Nag-akda siya ng higit sa 90 mga panukala sa ika-18 Kongreso.

Kabilang sa mga panukalang batas na inihain niya sa nakalipas na tatlong taon 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.

Sa muling pag-usbong ng bansa sa pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdninand Marcos, Jr., patuloy na isusulong ni Secretary Estrella III ang tunay na pagbabago sa repormang agraryo.

Si Conrado Masonsong Estrella III ay ipinanganak noong Setyembre 12, 1960. Siya ay ikinasal kay Sandra Romero-Estrella at may apat na anak na sina Maria Sergia Susana, Conrado Andrew IV, Albert at Gilbert.

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