Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced on September 20, 2019 that President Rodrigo Duterte has recently assigned him as Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) in Cordillera Administrative Administration (CAR).

“Given this recent post, I will be regularly coming here not only in Benguet but other provinces of Cordillera to address concerns and issues in the area and make reports to the President,” Dar said.

Dar is the latest addition among the Cabinet secretaries assigned as CORDS.

Under this initiative, Cabinet members are assigned to discharge their functions, duties and responsibilities to a particular region in addition to their regular duties.

Aside from ensuring speedy, efficient and orderly resolution of problems in government operations, the CORDS will assist the President in delivering basic services and livelihood to their assigned region.

Dar took his BS in Agricultural Education in 1969 and MS in Agronomy in 1976, at the then Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC), now known as Benguet State University (BSU), in La Trinidad, Benguet.

At BSU, he started as a researcher and instructor in 1979 and rose to become professor VI and vice president for R&D support services in 1985.

“Kaya asahan po ninyo na tayo ay magtutulungan para mapaunlad natin ang industriya ng agrikultura at the same time ma-sustain natin ang natural ecosystem dito sa Cordillera,” said Dar. ### (Rita dela Cruz)