Mountain Province urged: Lead autonomy movement

By Roger Sacyaten

BONTOC, Mountain Province – This province, once center of governance in the region and headwaters of major river systems in the Cordillera, should lead in advocacy for Cordillera autonomy.

This was the gist of the messages by guest speakers during “Gong Relay” ceremony at the provincial plaza here last week.

The “Gong relay” is a regional annual activity as part of the commemoration of the founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region with the passing of the gong from one province to another in the six provinces and one city of CAR.

Gov. Leonard Mayaen accepted the gong from the Ifugao delegation headed by Vice Gov. Pedro Mayam-o who charmed the audience with his witty and humor filled spiels.

“This Unity Gong Relay is a clear and beautiful display of our sincere and continuing efforts in building a socially, economically, and politically stable society grounded on the principles of unity and harmony,” Mayaen said.

Augusto Lagon, assistant regional director of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, attuned to the year’s theme “Conserving the Environment towards a Greener Cordillera, Mountain Province should lead in protecting the environment.

Jonathan Paul Leusen, Jr., assistant regional director of Dept. of Interior and Local Government, cited the province for being the center of governance as  capital of old Mountain Provinces composed of the six provinces before the subdivision.

EO 220 was issued in 1987 by then President Corazon C. Aquino creating the CAR to prepare for the region for autonomy .

The region twice rejected autonomy in two plebiscites. Latest data gathered from reliable sources indicate low but gaining level of awareness on autonomy especially in the province.

MarcelinoBalaso Jr., a member of the provincial task force on autonomy, said  awareness on autonomy is improving but acceptance is a different thing.

“The people are now becoming aware of autonomy but they are still confined in the traditional box of negative perception about autonomy. The advocacy campaign needs to be intensified to win favorable outlook of our people”, he said.

“Is the clamor for Cordillera autonomy gaining or sluggishly dying out?,” asked an observer during the program.

Provincial residents had earlier called for allotting autonomy funds to the barangays.