Festival, events planned for Cordillera Month; DTI, Mt Prov to co-host

By Marlo T. Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY - The Regional Development Council economic development committee, chaired by Dept. of Trade and Industry Cordillera planned activities for this year’s Cordillera Month celebration during their first quarter meeting on Feb. 13.

The committee took over as the RDC lead committee for this year’s celebration from the infrastructure development committee led by Dept. of Public Works and Highways Cordillera.

The provincial government of Mountain Province will co-host after responsibilities were turned over in 2019 from the province of Kalinga.
This year’s theme will be submitted to the RDC council for approval.

It will focus on innovation and regional autonomy towards economic prosperity.

The committee, chaired by DTI regional director Myrna Pablo envisions a vibrant month-long celebration of the 33rd founding anniversary of the Cordillera in July.

There will be a “kapihan” press conference on the first day of the month, the Unity Gong Relay on the second week, the founding anniversary celebration on July 15 and a culminating program and state of the region address on July 31.

Other activities and engagements are set throughout the month. Pablo said this year’s celebration would

involve more Cordillera folks.

A primary activity designed for the people’s engagement is the investment opportunities summit.

DTI Cordillera, supported by committee member agencies the Departments of Agriculture and Science and Technology, will conduct a multi-province summit that would help Cordillera entrepreneurs increase investment generation with processing, marketing, and technology innovations.
Member agency DOT Cordillera also proposed piloting a regional festival in Bontoc focused on Cordilleran music and folk arts.

DOT regional director Jovita Ganongan said there has yet to be truly region-wide festival that celebrates Cordillera culture and its people apart from the government-focused Cordillera Unity Gong relay.

The committee recognized the potential of such a festival and the established platform of the RDC-led Cordillera Month celebration can facilitate its creation.
The Cordillera Month celebration, with its focus on the Unity Gong Relay, is an RDC-led initiative to celebrate the region’s identity and reaffirm its commitment to the Constitutional mandate of regional autonomy.

It is based on the founding of the Cordillera Administrative Region through Executive Order 220 signed on July 15, 1987, which was intended to prepare the once-separated highland provinces, composed of a majority indigenous population, for regional autonomy.