RDC, RPOC approves P2-M Cordillera Month allocation

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Regional Development Council and the Regional Peace and Order Council in the Cordillera approved the 2019 work and financial plan on the 32nd Cordillera month celebration which will be jointly headed by the RDC-CAR infrastructure committee and the provincial government of Kalinga.

The resolution was approved by both bodies chaired by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan during their just first quarter meeting held at the newly upgraded Bontoc municipal hall last Tuesday.

Initially, P2.9 million will be sourced from the annual budget of the Special Preparation of the Cordillera Administrative Region into an autonomous region while the Kalinga provincial government will be shelling out around P2 million as its counterpart for the activities that will be lined up during the Cordillera month celebration.

The RDC-CAR infrastructure development committee, during its meeting on February 6, 2019, prepared a set of activities on how the region will be celebrating the 32nd founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administration Region (CAR).

The Cordillera month is an annual celebration conceptualized by the RDC-CAR in the 1990s to celebrate the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as a special temporary administrative region and to celebrate the region’s quest for autonomy and rich history.

The theme of this year’s 32nd founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is “CAR @ 32: Building One Greater Cordillera.”

 The RDC-CAR and RPOC-CAR stipulated that the specific objectives of the anniversary celebration is to raise awareness of the communities on the government’s build, build, build infrastructure program that seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending and develop industries that will yield robust growth, create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos, especially those from the countryside; to heighten consciousness on the history of the Cordillera; to promote appreciation of the Cordillera people’s quest for autonomy and to showcase the gains of the infrastructure sectors in the Cordillera since its creation 32 years ago.

Both regional bodies also enjoined all local government units to establish their respective committees to plan and spearhead provincial level celebrations of the region’s founding anniversary and appropriating funds for the said programs.

Local committees’ membership may include provincial line agencies, civil society organizations, higher education institutions and other entities who are willing to support the implementation of the programs for the 32nd founding anniversary of the region.

The RDC-CAR and RPOC-Car assumed that the preparation of the 2019 Cordillera month project report and liquidation of expenses incurred shall be done immediately after the completion of the lined up activities wherein the submission of the final report and liquidation shall be on or before November 30, 2019.

Among the activities that were lined up for the 32nd Cordillera month celebration include the conduct of a news conference on June 26, 2019, Unity Gong Relay from July 9-14, 2019, Cordillera Laga runway and fellowship night on July 14, 2019 parade and culminating program on July 15, 2019. -- Dexter A. See