Cordi leaders call on int’l Igorot support for regional autonomy

TABUK CITY – Cordillera leaders called on support from Igorots worldwide to realize Cordillera autonomy.

Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang in his address to the members of the Igorot Global Organization during the 13th Igorot International Conference held here Feb. 7 to 10 urged support to autonomy saying, “There is no place like home.”

Mangaoang sparked the discussion on need for Cordillera autonomy. Several speakers also cited potential of the Cordillera in developing agriculture, tourism and geothermal power through self-governance.
“Working overseas is an ultimate sacrifice,” Mangaoang saying skilled and talented Cordillerans go for better opportunities outside the country when they can earn in the region.

He said immigration of talented and skilled individuals is a nationwide concern.

He listed legislative initiatives such as the “Balik scientist program” as the Philippine Government’s recognition of the need to retain talented and skilled Filipinos.

Mangaoang cited Cordillerans for continuing to take pride in promoting Igorot culture despite living in foreign lands.

He said Cordillera autonomy will lessen the trend of “brain-drain”/human capital flight from the region by providing a place where Cordilleran culture and heritage are celebrated and institutionalized while maximizing local talent.

He urged members of the Igorot Global Organization to invest in the region and support Cordilleran self-determination.

Igorot pioneer and energy resource expert Rufino Bomasang called the dream of a better Cordillera region “Igorotlandia”.

He said the Cordillera must be economically viable to thrive in an autonomous set-up.

Bomasang said the region can achieve this through development of renewable energy resources such as hydro and geothermal energy.

“We have important God-given assets, such as vast eco-tourism sites, natural and renewable energy resources, and skilled human capital”, he said. Bomasang also highlighted the Igorot value of “inayan” (an indigenous version of the Golden Rule)  as a model for the sustainable management of resources and proper governance of the autonomous region.

He said local people must actively participate in project development and become true shareholders in a corporate framework.

“In this way, locals can form mining and energy companies and invite technical assistance on the utilization of resources but remain as the decision-makers and stakeholders,” he said.

Bomasang added this was the key to accelerate development in the region and prevent previous abuses against indigenous peoples and exploitation of natural resources in the Cordillera.

He urged cooperation of Cordillerans to make this “quantum leap” in economic development.
Regional Development Council vice-chair and NEDA Cordillera Regional Director Milagros Rimando recalled that the peoples of the Cordillera have always had a sense of self-governance and autonomy that helped resist Spanish Colonization and even persisted during the American period.

She said this had persevered until modern times with the resistance of Cordilleran icons such as Mateo Cariño, Macli-ing Dulag, and Conrado Balweg against development neglect and aggression.

Rimando said the journey towards Cordillera autonomy has led to the continued work of the RDC to pursue this dream as the best way to achieve sustainable development and just and lasting peace in the region.

DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan and DOST-CAR Regional Director Nancy Bantog both presented tourism and research prospects in CAR.

Each focused on the potential of the agriculture sector which has been the foundation of the Cordillera region but has recently underperformed in economic production.

Bantog cited Cordillera research and development innovations based on indigenous practices that could boost productivity.

Ganongan encouraged the IGO members to help pique the interest of the younger Cordillera generation to pursue careers in agriculture and agri-preneurship.