Cordi top officials to Marcos: Certify autonomy bill urgent

By Legriv Vilee I. Marquez

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., in his speech delivered by Presidential Assistant for Northern Luzon Asst. Sec. Ana Carmela Remigio, celebrates with the people of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as they commemorate the 36th Cordillera Day on July 15, 2023 in the Province of Apayao.  
    “Today, we honor the many feats you have achieved and the challenges you have prevailed upon through the years.     Therefore, let us all celebrate with pride and vigor the solidarity, dynamism, and camaraderie among the Cordillerans”, said the President. The latter was not able to attend the event due to bad weather.
    Expressing his hopes that President Marcos, Jr. is inclined to help the region in the pursuit of regional autonomy, RDC Chair and Apayao Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. encouraged everyone to rekindle their hope.
    He shared that the Cordillera governors and Congressional representatives plan to seek an audience with the President to certify the autonomy bill as urgent.
    Gov. Bulut urged everyone to continue their strong support toward regional autonomy. “We have high hopes that the autonomy that we would want to enjoy in the Cordilleras ket suportaran ni Apo Presidente. Dagitoy dagiti namnamaen tayo (We have high hopes that the autonomy that we want to enjoy in the Cordilleras will be supported by the President. This is what we hope for)”.
    Chairperson of the Committee on Indigenous Peoples Concerns (CIPC) and Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. invited all Cordillerans to carry forward the pursuit of regional autonomy and work harmoniously for the betterment of the future generation in the region and the country, as stewards and heirs of the Cordillera region.
    The Cordillera Day marks the convergence of the seven provincial and city unity gongs.
    The people of Apayao, serving as the gracious host of the event, welcomed all representatives from the provinces and the City of Baguio in the meaningful gesture of hanging each of their provincial and city unity gongs in the regional unity gong stand and beating the regional unity gong. This symbolic action affirmed their shared unity and aspiration with the rest of the Cordillerans for regional autonomy.
    The people of Apayao witnessed the outpouring of support for the Cordillera Day celebration in the province as regional executives, along with stakeholders from provinces and cities of the Cordillera, attended the event.
    Governor Bulut, Jr. leads the Cordillera Month celebration as the RDC Chair and host province, together with the Committee on Indigenous Peoples chaired by Mountain Province Gov. Lacwasan, Jr. and NCIP-CAR as the host committee and agency, respectively.
    Earlier, Malacañan Palace, through Proclamation 250, declared July 15 of this year as a special non-working holiday in the region to give locals the full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration.