BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) continues to build a more inclusive and resilient region where everyone can thrive through the enhanced implementation of social development interventions through the years.
Arnel Cabanisas, co-chairperson of the RDC-CAR Social Development Committee and Private Sector Representative, said that health governance and promotion took center stage where the health department, partnering with local governments, launched the Batang Malusog Leadership Governance and Development Programs, enhancing the leadership and technical skills of local chief executives and health teams, the Biyaheng Kalusugan mental health and Project Rise UP support mental and social well being in communities, workplaces and schools.
Further, partnerships with regional and local health teams were also strengthened to expand health communication and advocacy activities.
Compared to the 66.72 percent ratio in 2022, the region’s maternal mortality ratio decreased to 56.42 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births last year.
Moreover, there has also been a significant reduction in premature deaths attributed to non-communicable diseases with the rate decreasing to 58.11 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023, from 121.08 deaths in 2022.
However, he admitted that challenges remain in improving child health outcomes with an increase in child mortality indicators observed where infant mortality with 13.1 deaths per 1,000 population exceeded the 2023 limit under the plan which is 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.
In 2023, Cabanisas noted that the region’s proportion of fully immunized children has improved to 65.03 percent reflecting an increase from 55.77 percent in 2022, However, the said figure remains significantly below the target of 95 percent set under the region’s plan and national objectives on health.
According to him, shortages in vaccines and vaccine hesitancy of some parents continue to impede progress towards meeting child immunization targets in the region.
In the basic education sector, he reported that during the schoolyear 2022-2023, the region’s completion rate and cohort survival rate for elementary pupils decreased by 0.69 percent and 0.83 percent, respectively, from the previous schoolyear. The same can be gleaned for the secondary level as the completion rate decreased by 12.19 percent and cohort survival rate by 12.21 percent from the previous schoolyear.
He stipulated that while the decrease is negligible in the elementary level, the same is pronounced and significant in the secondary level as more junior and senior high school learners prefer to enter the labor force early.
The Cordillera also made significant gains in the technical and vocational education and training where enrollment in TVET courses increased from 46,414 in 2022 to 65,541 last year or a 41.18 percent increase. Of the said number of enrollees, 61,835 completed their studies or a completion rate of 94.36 percent, exceeding the target of 90 percent for the year.
On the other hand, the private sector representative noted that enrollment in higher education increased to 144,975 last year, up from 122,625 in 2022, reflecting an 18.2 percent improvement. The higher education institutions in the region have shown as trailblazers at the Internalization Champions of Nation Building and Sustainability or ICONS Awards 2023, celebrating achievements in advancing global higher education. As of November 2023, the region’s average passing rate improved to 56.36 percent, up from 55.08 percent in 2022. Between 2021 to 2023, the professions with the highest passing rates in the Cordillera were physicians, mining engineers and architects.
Moreover, the Cordillera attained the highest English proficiency score among the country’s 17 regions based on the 2023 English Proficiency Index Report, highlighting the region’s commitment to language education and global communication.
At the same time, housing agencies have initiated financing and groundwork for 10,000 housing units allocated to the Cordillera from 2022 to 2023 under the Pambansang Pabahay Program Para Sa Pilipino: Zero Informal Settler Families by 2028. Last year, 32 local government units received assistance in preparing climate change and disaster risk assessments and updating their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) bringing the total number of local governments with formulated or updated CLUPs to 61 up from 35 in 2022.
Last year, the region’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.6 percent, exceeding the national average of 64.9 percent and placing the Cordillera among the top seven nationwide, showcasing a resilient workforce.
Cabanisas said that public employment services offices in the different local governments significantly increased support for job seekers by referring 126,805 individuals for placement, a notable 81.15 percent increase from 2022’s 70,000. The placement rate for qualified job seekers improved to 92 percent from 82 percent in 2022, leading to 116,661 individuals securing employment.
The Cordillera office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development ensured the continued operation of its 3-level three accredited centers: The Reception and Studies Center for Children, the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth and the Regional Haven for Women and girls. The centers have been pivotal in transforming lives. Last year, the centers provided vital services to 186 clients and successfully rehabilitated 133 residents, offering them a new lease in life and a brighter future.
The government’s social pension program supported more than 113,000 indigent seniors, while 96 centenarians received a total of P96.6 million in cash gifts. The Sustainable Livelihood Program extended crucial livelihood assistance to over 6,000 beneficiaries, empowering them with the means to achieve economic stability.
Subsequently, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provided conditional cash grants to more than 66,000 households offering vital support for their basic needs and fostering long-term improvements in their quality of life. Incidentally, more than 15,000 households have reached a level of self-sufficiency, enabling them to support and sustain their daily needs. By Dexter A. See
