LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza
Cordillera’s stunted growth

Publisher-Editor Eli Refuerzo’s main headline last month entitled “Cordillera lags behind other regions – RDC,” an article by Ramon Dacawi, tells us the truth about this mountain region’s present situation.

Despite an increase in the growth rate of the region’s gross domestic product from 2.3 per cent in 2001 to 2006 to 3.5 per cent in 2007, the Regional Development Council said it was “still way below the national growth rate of 7.2 per cent.”

This, even as the region’s paved national roads also “increased from 29 per cent to 36 per cent” last year. But contrary to the headline, the RDC report said Cordillera “posted a 96.9 per cent employment rate last year” – that is “3.2 per cent higher than the national employment rate of 93.7 per cent.”

Acting RDC chair Juan Ngalob, director of the National Economic Development Authority or NEDA, an acronym that I jokingly translate as “Never-Ending-Data-Accumulation,” announced the “sori” situation in his “sora” or State Of the Region Address during Cordillera’s 21st anniversary as an administrative region.

By way of the RDC report, Sir John is saying that the region may yet become more progressive than what it is today if it pushes anew an effort for regional autonomy.

But looking at Muslim Mindanao’s “progress” which has been every Philippine president’s baby since Quezon, and comparing that with the way our country’s national leaders extend skimpy development assistance to the Cordillera, I share the sentiment of many that autonomy after all, may not appear as a solution.

The Cordillera Administrative Region pales in comparison to the “very special treatment” the ARMM gets from the central government, the latest of which was the merging of innocent barangays into a Bangsamoro ancestral domain and bypassing in the process the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act which calls for consultations with tribal community-stakeholders.

Despite its "autonomous" nature, the ARMM receives approximately 98% of its operating revenue from the national government, and has yet to create additional sources of revenue.
During his term, President Ramos assured the release of almost P14 Billion to implement development projects in the ARMM. But a tour around the ARMM provinces together with

Cordillera regional directors in 1997 showed us no development worth P14 Billion.
Though no discussions ensued with the Cordillera directors whom we were with on that trip, I knew that everyone had the same question in mind: “where did the money go?”

Understandably, officials in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), many of whom were Malacanang lackeys, would protect all interests and objectives – both personal and regional, in contrast to what more legitimate and elected leaders want.

By them taking a closer look at their own version of autonomy, maybe it is best that Cordillera listens to what Mindanao ’s duly elected leaders say about it. Through a plebiscite in 1989, the predominantly Christian residents and Christianized tribes of the 14 provinces and 10 cities preferred to stay out of the ARMM and chose to move ahead on their own like they always did.

My Marawi informant said that “even under an autonomous set-up plus the preferential treatment they get from the central government, peace and true development are elusive.”

These elements lend us the strong feeling that probably if the “special treatment” offered to Mindanao was also given to the Cordillera, even minus an autonomous government; our region could have been better of than the rest – setting aside possibilities that the manna from Malacanang will not go the pockets of a few.

Although a little fault is blamed on the bad treatment we get from Manila , there are other reasons why Cordillera lags behind other regions in terms of development.

Cordillera growth is delayed or shall we say stunted because development is concentrated in the central hubs that serve as “melting pots” and become too crowded. Take a second look at Baguio , Philex Mines, Balatoc-Acupan-Atok-Virac, La Trinidad, Abatan, Mankayan, Bontoc, Banaue, Lagawe, Tabuk, Bangued, Kabugao, Luna, Sta. Marcela and other populated centers.

If overcrowding populations in these parts are not dispersed, the region’s growth velocity will reach a maximum limit. Hence, the need to find ways to distribute population growth in crowded centers.

An answer to that may yet be found in exploiting our natural resources that sit untouched in all other provinces in the Cordillera, outside of Benguet. On mineral deposits, for example, it has been proven worldwide that mining sites become overnight magnets for employment and business opportunities. Thus, creating new population centers but dispersing overcrowded areas. “ California gold rush” illustrates this.

I have the feeling that once the other provinces open up and start exploiting their natural resources, Cordillera development will move faster. Perhaps “autonomy” will become a thing of the past. And when that time comes, I will no longer hear the one liner: “Benguet, land of the Mountain Province.”

But if we do not wish to open up our resources in the provinces and do not share with fellow Cordillerans, then we better stop clamoring for regional autonomy.
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By way of this column may I reiterate the city government’s invitation to all golf enthusiasts in the city and nearby provinces to a pre-centennial golf tournament at the Baguio Country Club and the Camp John Hay Golf Club.
The campaign for the 2009 Centennial Celebrations of the city of Baguio will be on August 30 and 31 (this coming Saturday and Sunday), said Bishop Carlito Cenzon, a member of the Centennial Commission.

Tournament Director Retired General Nelson Eslao said that the tournament format will be Molave for players with handicaps and System 36 for players without handicaps.

Bishop Cenzon said, some 400 invited players will play in one of the venues for P1,200. Golf club sponsors waived the green fees. Trophies and other prizes await the winners. He said the golf tournament which is sponsored by the city government will help raise funds for the different activities in the 2009 centennial anniversary and would be able to support the sports activities slated by Dr. Charles Cheng. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com