BAUKO, – Hundreds of pioneer autonomy champions from the different parts of the region will be converging in the historic Mount Data hotel here on Monday, April 24, 2017 to explore the possibility of re-engaging them to strengthen the renewed quest for regional autonomy towards federalism being spearheaded by the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera.
Milagros A. Rimando, regional director of the Cordillera office of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-CAR) and RDC-CAR vice chairperson, said the activity is spearheaded by the region’s policy-making body and the office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process that aims to gather the pioneer autonomy advocates from the provinces for them to explore the potentials of re-engaging them to reinforce the RDC-CAR’s road map for achieving autonomy towards federalism.
Presidential Peace Advisers Jesus Dureza will grace the said activity to rally the senior autonomy advocates to work behind the region’s renewed quest for regional autonomy which is aligned with the Duterte administration’s advocacy for the shift from the current presidential form to federal form of government to enhance the development of regions in the different parts of the country.
Rimando explained the activity will be held at the historic Mount Data hotel to allow the senior autonomy advocates to reflect on the memories of their previous struggle and for them to renew their commitment to the renewed quest for regional autonomy and contribute to the enhancement of House Bill (HB) No. 5343 which seeks to establish the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.
It was in Mount Data hotel where the famous ‘sipat’ or the peace agreement between the cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) led by the late Fr. Conrado Balweg and the Philippine government under former President Corazon C. Aquino was signed on September 13, 1986. The conduct of the Pioneer Cordillera Champions Getting Together will be simultaneously done with the commemoration of the 37th Macli-ing Dulag and Pedro Dungoc memorial alongside the 2017 Butbut Tribe Bodong Congress in butbut- Tinglayan, Kalinga on April 24, 2017.
The twin activities in Butbut will be spearheaded by the Professionals and Elders Association and Avocates for Christian and Education Empowerment (PEACE) Inc., a non-government organization advocating for peace and development in Kalinga. The Butbut tribe of Kalinga will convene for a 2-day Bodong Congress to revise the various ‘pagta’ provisions of the tribe with other ‘binodngan’ tribes.
Suplay E. Alunday, PEACE Inc. chairman, said the significant events in Kalinga offers them another opportunity to commemorate their history ad to honor Macli-ing Dulag on his death anniversary, including men and women of the village who gave their lives for the defense of the tribe’s ancestral domain during the Chico river dam struggle and to continue their fight for regional autonomy.
Dureza will also serve as the guest of honor and speaker during the Macli-ing Dulag and Pedro Dungoc memorial and the conclusion of the Butbut Tribe Bodong Congress on April 25, 2017 at Butbut, Tinglayan, Kalinga. By HENT
