Officials push creation of Cordi autonomous region

‘Unity gong relays’ held 

BARLIG, Mountain Province delegates led by Mayor Clark Ngaya turn overs “unity gong’ to the Municipality of Bontoc headed by Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., during “gong relay” July 10 at  Bontoc Municipal Capitol auditorium.-- Jovi T. Lopez

 

By Alpine L. Killa- Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Cordillera government officials and offices are now holding events in different parts of the region in commemoration of the creation of the Cordillera Administration Region in 1986 and pushing realization of regional autonomy.
    Cordillera constituents rejected two organic acts to make the region autonomous in plebiscites.
    The latest Lower House approved a bill to this effect and proponents are hopeful this would be attained under the Marcos Administration     
    It was a special non-working holiday in the CAR last Friday, July 15 in celebration of its 35th anniversary.
    By authority of President Marcos, Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez issued Proclamation 4 declaring July 15 a holiday in the Cordillera, saying it is but fitting and proper that its residents be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to public health measures.
    The region was established under Executive Order 20 issued by former president Corazon Aquino on July 15, 1987.
    It was a result of a peace agreement signed by the government and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army led by rebel priest Conrado Balweg.
    The CPLA were former New People’s Army rebels who split from the communist group.
CAR is composed of Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra and Ifugao as well as this city and Tabuk City in Kalinga.               
    In Mountain Province, mayors led the “unity gong relay” in support to creation of Cordillera Autonomous Region.
    Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., led officials and people of this capital town’s support for Cordillera autonomy when he received the ‘symbolic unity gong’ from delegates of Barlig headed by Mayor Clark Ngaya on July 10  at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
    In his turnover message, Ngaya who received the unity gong from the Municipality of Natonin expressed their support for the realization of Cordillera Autonomous Region.
    In his acceptance message, Tudlong commended Mountain Province officials for coming up with an innovation in the traditional “Cordillera unity gong relay” through passing of the unity gong from one municipality to another.
“The passing of the unity gong from one municipality to another municipality in Mountain Province is an avenue to fully explain to our partners at the barangay level our quest for regional autonomy since they are the ones who will help us relay the messages to the people in their respective villages,” he said.
    He added this was the reason barangay officials, youth and senior citizens were invited to take part in the event as he appealed to participants to relay messages on autonomy to their respective communities.
    “We have to involve our people as this will lead to more opportunities for the region to come up with policies on progress and development that are responsive to the situation of the region. We hope this strengthens our clamor for self-determination to achieve autonomy towards good governance. That when we beat the Cordillera Unity Gong, may the sound of the gong be our voice as one Cordillera,” Tudlong said.
    Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey who spoke on behalf of the Provincial Government of Mountain Province lauded the two municipalities for their commitment of support to the on-going quest for Cordillera autonomy.
    Gary Pekas of the provincial government of Mountain Province who is also a member of the speakers’ bureau for regional autonomy talked on significance of the unity gong relay and answered questions from participants during the open forum.
    Others dignitaries who  present during gong relay program in Bontoc were members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen and delegates from the Provincial Government of Mountain Province.
    Meanwhile, Tudlong who led the delegates from Bontoc in the turnover of the unity gong to the Municipality of Sabangan led by Mayor Marcial Lawilao, Jr., morning of July 11, expressed hope Sabangan will reciprocate the same support Bontoc  committed in pursuit of Cordillera Autonomous Region.
    The inter-municipality turnover of the symbolic unity gong was part of activities in celebration of the 35th Cordillera founding anniversary.
    For this year’s celebration, Mountain Province was the host with the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development as the lead agency.
    The theme for this year’s Cordillera Month celebration is “One Autonomous Cordillera: Ensuring Social Development and Inclusive Growth in the New Normal."