‘Unity gong relay’ kicks off in Kalinga; autonomy historical moves recalled
>> Thursday, August 10, 2023
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The “Unity Gong Relay”
was launched here last week to signify thrusts to attain Cordillera autonomy
even as history of the movement was recalled.
Mayor Darwin Estrañero, in his message during launching in the province, said development in Cordillera was not possible without peace and stability.
“That is why there was the "alasiw" and the "sipat" or the exchange of peace tokens between the government and the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) then headed by the Fr. Conrado Balweg 37 years ago,” he said.
On April 7, 1986, he said the Lumbaya Company led by Fr. Balweg split from the communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA) at the Kili valley in Baclingayan, Tubo, Abra and former the CPLA because of differences in ideology like protection of lands of indigenous peoples.
Prior to July 15, 1987, then-president Corazon Aquino met with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-CPLA and presided over the alasiw to signify the sipat for the signing of the Mount Data peace agreement on Sept. 13, 1986, he added.
The peace agreement paved the way for the cessation of hostilities between the CPLA and government forces in Cordillera.
Estranero said the sipat was followed by creation of a joint panel led by Fr. Balweg for the Cordillera side and Ambassador Emmanuel Pelaez for the government side to draft an executive order creating the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in preparation for the enactment of the Organic Act that will establish the autonomous region.
On July 15, 1987, Executive Order 220 was signed into law by then-President Aquino exercising both her legislative and executive powers that created the CAR, which comprised the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province and Baguio city from Region 1 (Ilocos) and the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao from Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) to prepare for the subsequent establishment of the autonomous region.
"The autonomy that we are fighting for is an offshoot of a long-time dream of every Cordilleran that the region must be developed as we have all the natural resources waiting to be tapped for the common good. This has been preceded by armed struggles, which the communist movement tried to take advantage of to push their political ideology that was contrary to Cordillera customs, tradition and culture," Estrañero said.
He noted that EO 220 is considered as a reasonable measure by which the people of the Cordillera can actively participate in the pursuit of peace and development.
Mayor Darwin Estrañero, in his message during launching in the province, said development in Cordillera was not possible without peace and stability.
“That is why there was the "alasiw" and the "sipat" or the exchange of peace tokens between the government and the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) then headed by the Fr. Conrado Balweg 37 years ago,” he said.
On April 7, 1986, he said the Lumbaya Company led by Fr. Balweg split from the communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA) at the Kili valley in Baclingayan, Tubo, Abra and former the CPLA because of differences in ideology like protection of lands of indigenous peoples.
Prior to July 15, 1987, then-president Corazon Aquino met with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-CPLA and presided over the alasiw to signify the sipat for the signing of the Mount Data peace agreement on Sept. 13, 1986, he added.
The peace agreement paved the way for the cessation of hostilities between the CPLA and government forces in Cordillera.
Estranero said the sipat was followed by creation of a joint panel led by Fr. Balweg for the Cordillera side and Ambassador Emmanuel Pelaez for the government side to draft an executive order creating the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in preparation for the enactment of the Organic Act that will establish the autonomous region.
On July 15, 1987, Executive Order 220 was signed into law by then-President Aquino exercising both her legislative and executive powers that created the CAR, which comprised the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province and Baguio city from Region 1 (Ilocos) and the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao from Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) to prepare for the subsequent establishment of the autonomous region.
"The autonomy that we are fighting for is an offshoot of a long-time dream of every Cordilleran that the region must be developed as we have all the natural resources waiting to be tapped for the common good. This has been preceded by armed struggles, which the communist movement tried to take advantage of to push their political ideology that was contrary to Cordillera customs, tradition and culture," Estrañero said.
He noted that EO 220 is considered as a reasonable measure by which the people of the Cordillera can actively participate in the pursuit of peace and development.
0 comments:
Post a Comment