(Last of 2 series, the 1st, titled, “CAR Experts triangulate Highlands Growth Snags, “published July 31)
BAGUIO CITY— Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), is a fragile ecosystem where unrestrained rural and urban development can easily wreak havoc on, yet still tote a portfolio of assets that test the region’s march to progress and still maintain anthropocentrism – or view that highlander residents as charged with caretaking mission with respect to the rest of Nature.
Such discernment, in a nutshell, pictures the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-CAR) hint on what different government instruments, communities and the private sector can do to promote growth and improvement in the well-being of highlanders and lowlanders inhabiting delicate environs like the highlands.
In NEDA-CAR’s Cordillera Administrative Region’s Regional Spatial Development framework (RSDF) 2019-2049 and also contained in CAR’s Regional Physical framework Plan 2004-2034, five development potentials were cited which can help truck further success for long-term development in upland Cordillera.
First, CAR is in possession of natural assets that can be framed to facilitate and enable action-oriented research and studies emphasizing recognition on diversity and identifying role of CAR natural assets, including policy formulation for local to global challenges.
Judiciously utilized, these resources can economically uplift Cordillera as well as its neighboring regions, NEDA-CA noted.
Although a 19, 422, 03 km square landlocked area, it holds 13 major river basins with a watershed area covering 18,293 square kilometers and home to 46 major proclaimed forests and watersheds.
These river systems, from springs or streams known as headwaters and originating in CAR’s fortress mountains are sources for watershed, for irrigation, for communities’ use and for generating electricity and other economic endeavors.
“The region’s major rivers have enormous water-bearing capacity and serve as major sources of water for domestic, agricultural, power generation and industrial needs not only of the Cordillera but also for neighboring regions,” NEDA-CAR’s RSDF pointed out.
CAR’s fragile ecosystem, if protected, and secured, can “ also be its best resource to economically develop itself by using its stature as Watershed cradle of North Philippines to benefit from the gains of protecting the environment specifically in providing ecosystem services, including the preservation and propagation of indigenous flora and fauna,” NEDA-CAR explained in the framework plan.
CAR has its own program on climate change adaptation, as evidenced by the previously launched Science and Technology Action Frontline for Emergencies and Hazards initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-CAR). DOST-CAR calls the initiative SAFE.
SAFE is a multi-sector initiative focusing on CAR’s different provincial conditions.
Given such focus and other CAR- Local Government Units (LGU) impetus on climate change, NEDA-CAR said in its RSDF that “With initiatives towards solving problems brought about by concerns on global warming and climate change, CAR can advance its advocacy for compensation of ecosystem services that it provides to North Philippines with its role as source of water and its hosting of five of the country’s extremely high critical biodiversity conservation priority areas.”
Second attribute pointed to, by NEDA-CAR is CAR’s “distinct cultural assets,” which, if creatively pursued in the envelope of arts and culture can pay dividends in increasing awareness and respect for the varying culture and traditions inherent in CAR.
NEDA-CAR cited as examples, Baguio City recognized as part of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) “Creative cities Network for its distinguished crafts and folk arts” in today’s contemporary and modern art and the Banaue Rice Terraces, both attracting domestic and international visitors. There are, of course on record, other fascinating attractions in CAR, too.
Thirdly, NEDA-CAR zeroed on “Increasing competitiveness of CAR in strategic industries,” which rests on the direction of commercial imperatives and bearing in mind how competitive advantage is achieved through an ecosystem approach in strategic industry marketing.
Take CAR’s tourism industry as one example. It continues to perform well because of energetic tourism promotion and the rising diversity offered by the different CAR provinces. Although the province of Ifugao needs to recalibrate its tourism posturing for it to be rid from the tourism slump the province has been lately experiencing.
Another example listed by NEDA-CAR is about the region’s production of high value crops. With such input, CAR holds the edge of slicing more of the international market, aside from its usual domestic trade.
Then there is CAR’s vibrant “Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)” industry, with Baguio City gripping the most concentration of it and placing 94th among cities, worldwide, in the 2016 Tholon List.
NEDA-CAR estimates there are around 20,000 persons working in BPOs (2016 survey) from 11 firms registered with Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). La Trinidad municipality has also its share of BPO’s, the number increasing.
Another economic punch CAR has is its hydropower generation, given its moniker “Watershed Cradle North of the Philippines.” CAR’s contribution to the Luzon Grid continues to heighten considerably with the operation of additional power facilities to harness CAR’s hydropower potential estimated at around 3,587 Megawatt (MW) and place it as a major industry. A megawatt is one million watts.
Already, there are three CAR provinces moving forward with operational hydropower facilities. Mountain Province has one in Sabangan municipality, another in Kiangan municipality, Ifugao and the rest in Benguet.
CAR development planners and political leaders, presently, continue to adhere promoting development of small 10-50MW to mini-hydro (below 10MW) which are run-of-the-river systems.
Establishment of local power initiatives shall be encouraged with Local Government Units (LGUs), electric cooperatives and host communities as incorporating stockholders.
Such kinds of hydro systems do not require to high of capital investments and do not submerge valuable croplands, settlements and sites of cultural and historical significance.
Highlanders are very sensitive and aggravated when such mentioned sites are disturbed.
Fourth, is CAR’s “Nationally and globally human resources.” Considered first-class educational hub of Northern Luzon, CAR is the keeper of numerous Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), most of these operated by the private sector.
NEDA-CAR stressed CAR has, in the past and today, an inveiglement of learners for higher education as well as technical-vocational education, and as a result, CAR has been adjudged “producing more professional board passers than other regions in the country.”
“This makes CAR a popular and highly competitive region in providing quality education and manpower development services. This creates an advantage in producing and providing a readily available pool of highly educated and skilled manpower for industries and businesses that are ready to invest in the region,” NEDA-CAR emphasized.
And the last, but not least, is the “Constitutional mandate to establish an autonomous region for CAR.” Article 10, sections 15-21 in the 1987 Philippine Constitution provide for the creation of an autonomous region in the Cordillera.
But CAR’s pursuit for autonomy in the organic acts of 1990 and 1998 got shelved in two referendums that failed to sway Cordillerans to stamp their approval for an autonomous region.
Many proponents for autonomy, some living well beyond elder years and some having gone to the grave, but the renewed pursuit for autonomy continues and is a major regional goal and development strategy.
Enshrined in the Constitution, it is a dream that will never fade from the horizon and CAR’s Regional Development Council (RDC) is in the forefront of making it reality – and not merely a pipe dream.
Politics, parochial interests, jurisdictional disputes and, or poor leadership must be sidelined so as to allow highlander residents to achieve self-rule.
Until then that,” the constitutional provision to create an autonomous region in the Cordillera is realized; the region will capitalize on this option, recognizing that an autonomy as a governance strategy that can help fast-track the development of the region through increased devolution with the corresponding transfer of increased national government resources to the autonomous region,” NEDA-CAR spelled out.
