TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Kalinga Bodong Congress will be held on February 2-3 at the Kalinga Sports Center as the opening salvo for the celebration of the 29th Kalinga Founding Anniversary and 5th Bodong Festival with around 1,700 Bodong holders expected to attend the congress.
Highlights of the congress include the presentation of the proposed amendments of the Pagta, ratification of the Pagta as amended by the Bodong holders, presentation of the proposed organizational structure of the Kalinga Bodong Council, and the signing of the Pledge of Commitment and Support to the Pagta.
The Kalinga Bodong Task Force, established by Governor James S. Edduba through Executive Order No. 2023-36 to conceptualize and prepare the 2024 Bodong Congress, finalized and signed on January 11 the terminal report containing the recommendations to the governor including: Establishment of a Kalinga Bodong Council under the Office of the Governor with two sections: the Kalinga Bodong Development Office and the Office of the Panel of Negotiators or Mansasakusak; the passing of an ordinance by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to provide the legal foundation and financial resources required for the effective functioning of the Kalinga Bodong Council and its affiliated offices; for the Bodong Congress to be the highlight of the 2024 Kalinga Bodong Festival; the inclusion of a Kalinga Student Youth Summit for tertiary and secondary students to foster awareness and engagement among the younger generation regarding Bodong system of Kalinga; to showcase the stages of the formation of Bodong through a cultural portrayal during the Bodong Festival celebrations; the conduct of a comprehensive research study on the acceptability of the implementation of the modified Pagta of the Bodong system of Kalinga after 3 years of implementation and the Provincial Government of Kalinga has initiated the 2024 Bodong Congress to convene all Bodong holders within Kalinga, offering a platform to reaffirm the enduring legacy of this peace pact and solidify its role in maintaining societal harmony for generations to come. By Tabuk PIO