Yap files bill declaring Cordillera Day holiday

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- ACT-CIS Representative and Benguet Legislative Caretaker Cong. Eric Go Yap has filed a bill declaring Cordillera Day a holiday yearly.

Yap filed House Bill 7089 to make July 15 a special non-working day in Cordillera Administrative Region in celebration of the its  founding anniversary.

 He made the announcement during the "Bituen ti Amianan" awarding ceremony and the "Agdan ti Laing" coffee table book launching of the Cordillera Regional Risk Reduction Management Council and Office of the Civil Defense -CAR in Baguio City  on  July 14 where he was the guest of honor.

Yap noted that every year Cordillerans are clamoring for the President to declare July 15 a special holiday. 

 The bill once approved, will give opportunity for the Cordillerans to celebrate the region’s founding anniversary   on July 15 of every year without asking for a special proclamation, he said.

The CAR composed of the Baguio City and the provinces of Abra, Apayao,   Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province was created by virtue of Executive Order 220 signed by the President Corazon Aquino on July 15, 1987.

Every year, the Regional Development Council requests the President to declare July 15 as a special holiday in CAR so Cordillerans could gather and renew the camaraderie and brotherhood among the tribes, culture and people.

 The Cordillera Day celebration is also an event to renew the call for regional autonomy and development.

This year, Malacanang issued Proclamation No. 977 declaring July 15, 2020 as special holiday in the entire Cordillera region for the people to celebrate but with some conditions given the prevailing state of public health emergency in the country due to the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19

Meanwhile, Yap lauded Cordillerans on occasion of the 33rd founding anniversary despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said he washonored to be part of the Cordillera Day celebration, and one with the Cordillera as the legislative caretaker of the province of Benguet.

 The year’s theme “One Resilient Cordillera: Embracing the New Normal Towards Recovery,” he added, reflects the strength of the Cordillerans in facing the unknown to secure the safety and well-being of the people. -- PIA