Cordillera Month gong relay kicks off in Apayao

By Paul Rillorta

LUNA, Apayao – The Unity Gong Relay kicked off July 9  in in this town.

This is in celebration of 28th Cordillera Day by virtue of Executive Order No. 220 of then President Corazon Aquino signed on July 15, 1987 to commemorate the creation of the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

Cordillera Day was declared a holiday by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1056 giving the people of the Cordillera the opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

This year’s theme, “Conserving the Environment Towards a Greener Cordillera” will be highlighted with the ceremonial tree planting activity in every province where the Unity Gong will pass.

From here, the relay passes to Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Benguet, Baguio City, Abra and back to Apayao.

Activities slated for the Cordillera Day are Eco-tour to Marag Valley on July 13, Jobs Fair in Luna, Apayao on July 13 to 14, Agri-Trade Fair on July 13 to 15 including Biodiversity Exhibit, Environmental Biodiversity Forum on July 14, Congressional Hearing on HB 4649 or an Act Establishing the Cordillera Region, Eco-tour to Lussok Cave and Nagan River.

A Stakeholders Night will also be held on July 14 with the search for Dayagti Cordillera and the culminating activity program and parade on July 15 at Luna, Apayao.

The Cordillera was created as a product of the sipat (peace pact) between the government and the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) led by Fr. ConradoBalweg.

The autonomy debate however started as early as 1970’s as a means of exploring constitutional possibilities for the right to self-determination by the peoples of the Cordilleras.

The inclusion of the provision for the Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera in the 1987 constitution gave the legal basis to pursue regional autonomy in the region.

It however failed to be ratified in the plebiscite of 1990 under Republic Act 6766 and again failed in a second plebiscite in 1998 under Republic Act 8438. 

Advocates of the Organic Act are now banking on the third attempt for self-determination provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution thru House Bill 4649.

Meantime, Gov.  Elias Bulut, Jr. will be turning over the coordination of the 2016 Cordillera Month celebration to Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan on July 15 as the next host Local Government Unit.