TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Mayor Darwin C. Estran֮ero underscored that the realization of the long overdue aspiration of Cordillerans for the establishment of an autonomous region will propel and boost peace and development.
In his message during the launching of the Unity Gong Relay in the province, Estran֮ero pointed out that development in the Cordillera is not possible without peace and stability that is why there was the so-called ‘alasiw’ and the ‘sipat’ or the exchange of peace tokens between the government and the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) headed by the late Fr. Conrado Balweg 37 years ago.
On April 7, 1986, the CPLA Lumbaya company led by Fr. Balweg split from the CPP-NPA at the Kili valley in Baclingayan, Tubo, Abra because of differences on ideology where the group was fighting for just cause such as the protection of the lands of the indigenous peoples among others.
He narrated that prior to July 15, 1987, former President Corazon C. Aquino met with the Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) led by Fr. Balweg and presided over the ‘alasiw’ to signify the ‘sipat’ or the signing of the historic Mount Data peace agreement on September 13, 1986 which paved the way for the cessation of hostilities between the CPLA and the government forces in the Cordillera.
The local chief executive stipulated that following the ‘sipat’ was the creation of the joint panel led by Fr. Balweg for the Cordillera side and Ambassador Emmanuel Pelaez for the government side to draft an executive order creating the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in preparation for the enactment of the Organic Act that will establish the autonomous region. As promised by the 1987 Constitution.
On July 15, 1987, Executive Order No. 220 was signed into law by former President Aquino exercising both her legislative and executive powers that created the CAR which comprised the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province and Baguio city from Region I and the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao from Region II. To prepare the subsequent establishment of the autonomous region.
“The autonomy that we are fighting for is an offshoot of a long-time dream of every cordilleran that the region must be developed as we have all the natural resources waiting to be tapped for the common good. This has been preceded by armed struggles which the communist movement tried to take advantage to ride on their political ideology which is contrary to Cordillera customs, tradition and culture,” Estran֮ero stressed.
According to him, EO 220 is considered as a reasonable measure by which the people of the Cordillera can actively participate in the pursuit of peace and development.
Among its fundamental objectives include to accelerate economic and social growth and development in the region and to prepare the region for autonomy.
However, he quipped that today, after 36 years, it seems that the government is not seriously taking cognizance of the constitutional mandate for the establishment of the autonomous regional government because the lawmakers are not keen enough in facilitating the passage of the much desired Organic Act.
“It is our hope that together with the other cordillera provinces this autonomous government of the cordillera will soon be established,” he emphasized.
The mayor explained that the Cordillera bodies such as the Cordillera Executive Board (CEB), Cordillera Regional Assembly (CRA) and the DBA had been defunct since the time of former President Joseph Estrada and the funds for autonomy information and education campaign has been transferred to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera.
He argued that since then, the chance of the Cordillerans to actively participate in the pursuit of peace and development has been curtailed by the government itself that resulted to serious setbacks in the region’s quest for autonomy.
Under the present set up, each of the provinces will be conducting their respective inter-municipal Unity ‘gong Relay and that concerned stakeholders will converge in Luna, Apayao on July 15, 2023 for the celebration of the 36th founding anniversary of the CAR.
He asserted that the Communist Party of the Philippines – New Peoples Army (֮PP-NPA) could no longer recover their influence in the Cordillera because basically, they are not for peace and development but they want to overthrow the legitimate democratic government and establish a communist government.
