Autonomy info drive reaches Benguet b’gays

BUGUIAS, Benguet -- – The National Economic Development Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region (NEDA-CAR) in partnership with the local government unit of Barangay Catlubong here conducted an information, education, communication (IEC) on autonomy during the barangay’s second general assembly recently.

The activity was well-attended by community members – most of whom are farmers.

Autonomy speaker Vladimir D. Cayabas highlighted Cordillera’s need to become autonomous because of unresponsive policies in the region. The participants actively raised questions about the topic such as the disadvantages of becoming an autonomous region and its impact to government employees, senior citizens, and teachers especially in the benefits that they may or may not receive once the region achieves autonomy.

Cayabas, a Baguio City councilor responded to these questions by explaining that a move to become autonomous is more culturally and economically advantageous for Cordillera and that one salient feature of autonomous Cordillera is the non-diminution of benefits of government employees.

A similar activity was also conducted at Barangay Guinaoang, Mankayan on Oct. 29.

These autonomy IECs were a result of the barangay development congress cum autonomy IEC held September by the Benguet provincial government in coordination with NEDA-CAR where barangay officials from all municipalities in Benguet learned about autonomy.

Through the Cordillera Regional Development Council’s Social Preparation of CAR into an Autonomous Region (SPCAR) Program, the inclusion of autonomy IECs in the barangay assemblies of interested BLGUs were coordinated.

These were in addition to the RDC-CAR’s partnerships with different municipalities in the region for the conduct of barangay IECs.

Positive support for autonomy was noted in both IECs as reflected in the mock plebiscite conducted after the discussion with 80% voting for autonomy and 2% voting against it while the remaining 18% are still undecided. Several participants reiterated the need for more grassroots IECs especially when an autonomy bill is filed.
In the SPCAR communication plan for 2019-2020, barangay residents and barangay officials are priority target sector for autonomy IECs.

With the filing of HB 5687 creating the Autonomous Region of Cordillera this 18th Congress, more public consultations will be held. -- NEDA-CAR