BANGUED, Abra – A Palace official rallied local officials and autonomy advocates to aggressively cascade to the people on the ground the advantages of the establishment of the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) to ensure their readiness when the autonomy law will be submitted to them for ratification.
Representing President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. during the main highlights of the 37th Cordillera month celebration here, Presidential Assistant for the Cordillera Assistant Secretary Antonio R. Tabora, Jr. pointed out that it is high time for the Cordillera to take the third attempt for the establishment of the autonomous region because of the snowballing clamor among concerned sectors for the shift from the present special temporary administrative region to an autonomous region.
However, he claimed that the people should be well informed on the advantages of achieving autonomy to avoid the repeat of the failures of the two Organic Acts that were enacted.
The theme of this year’s month-long celebration is ‘Multi-Culturalism Towards Regional Autonomy and Development” which focuses on the region’s diverse culture but with a common goal of realizing the constitutional provision of establishing the autonomous region to trigger the development around the Cordillera.
For his part, Apayao Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr appealed to Cordillerans to unite in demanding the grant of self-determination and self-governance to the Cordillera through the establishment of the desired autonomous region which has long been actually overdue.
He pointed out that the development of the region’s rich natural resources has been hindered by the highly centralized policy-making process that stalled the opportunity to maximize the region’s economic potentials into becoming a well developed region north of Manila.
Bulut, who also chairs the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera, underscored that the presence of the region’s rich natural resources is a testament of the wisdom of the region’s forebears in preserving and protecting it for the benefit of the upcoming generations through autonomy.
“Our nation stands to be benefited once the region unlocks its full potential to contribute significantly to economic growth. Our lands and waters are tied to our identity. We are united by our shared heritage and history. Our diverse cultures, traditional practices and indigenous knowledge systems have long guided us in living harmoniously with nature,” Bulut stressed.
According to him, by integrating these practices into modern governance, the region can create a sustainable development model that respects its cultural identity and promotes environmental conservation.
The Apayao governor argued that this is crucial as the region races against the accelerating impacts of climate change and rapid development expansion.
Earlier, Apayao has been declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Biosphere Reserve and the last forest frontier of the region which makes the call for autonomy more urgent than ever as the Cordillera confronts new emerging multi-hazards and intensified disaster risks.
He emphasized that the best time for Cordillera autonomy was three decades ago but the next best time for its realization is now.
On the other hand, Abra Gov. Dominic Valera expressed hope that the festivities of the 37th Cordillera month celebration will keep the Cordillera spirit for autonomy alive and burning amidst the challenges that the quest for regional autonomy is encountering at the moment.
He added that the younger generation of leaders should continue the struggle for autonomy if the present batch of leaders will not be able to work for the realization of the establishment of the autonomous region.
Kalinga Gov. James Edduba said that the different provinces must continue to strengthen their collaboration, share their resources and work for the betterment of their constituents that will serve as a giant step towards sending the clear message to higher authorities that the Cordillera rightfully deserves self-governance.
He argued that the region deserves to enjoy the benefits of maximum growth and development through the wise utilization of its rich natural resources attune with the culture and traditions of the indigenous peoples, thus, the national government must recognize the said clamor by granting the desired autonomous region through the enactment of the pending autonomy bills in both chambers of Congress.
Edduba asserted that the region has gone through numerous challenges in the past and that the Cordillerans have proven their resilience and their readiness for self-governance which is the primordial objective of the proposed autonomous region that should be already granted by the national government.
Ifugao Gov. Jerry Dalipog said that the convergence of Cordillerans during the celebration of the 37th Cordillera month serves as a glaring testament of the overwhelming support of the people to the quest for autonomy.
During the January 30, 1990 plebiscite for the first Organic Act, Ifugao was the only province that voted in favor of the establishment of the autonomous region while on the March 7, 1998 plebiscite for the second Organic Act, it was only Apayao that voted in favor of autonomy.
Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. emphasized that the Cordillera should bank on multi-culturalism as its asset in achieving autonomy because it only reflects that amidst the diverse culture and tradition is the unified efforts for self-governance.
Lacwasan said that Cordillerans should not lose track on the efforts towards genuine autonomy amidst the prevailing challenges besetting the quest for self-rule because it will be the younger generations that will reap the fruits of autonomy.
Abra Vice governor Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos expressed the host province’s gratitude to all the Cordillera leaders, concerned sectors and autonomy advocates for their trust and confidence to the present administration in hosting one of the major regional activities, the main highlights of the 37th Cordillera month celebration.
Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas relayed to the attendees the all-out support of the people in his province to the region’s quest for autonomy and that its realization will contribute in shaping the Cordillera’s overall growth and development at par with other developed regions in the country.
He emphasized the need for a sustained aggressive information education campaign both locally and nationally to ensure the readiness of the Cordillerans in embracing another chapter of the region’s rich history and heritage and for the same to be passed onto future generations.
She stipulated that the presence of Cordillera leaders in the province will definitely serve as a game changer in the status of the province being one of the emerging ecotourism destinations in the Cordillera.
The program was highlighted by the beating of the Unity Gong by Cordillera leaders and autonomy advocates to drumbeat the region’s clamor for autonomy which must be granted by the national government now. By Dexter A. See
