Cordillera reg’l autonomy pushed in ‘Dagyaw’ talks

BAGUIO CITY— The “Cordillera Dagyaw” pushed quest for Cordillera autonomy with wherein the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cordillera urged local government units to take a more active role in attaining autonomy for the region.
    “The Department, in partnership with other regional line agencies, recognizes that our pursuit of regional autonomy poses significant challenges and complexities. "Dagyaw 2023 Episode 2: 'Usapang Awtonomiya' provided a platform to acknowledge the historical and cultural elements that contribute to our unique Cordilleran identity. This initiative reflects our shared aspirations for cultural preservation, equitable resource management, and responsible governance," said DILG Cordillera regional director Araceli San Jose.
    She said the episode reinforced the national government's support to establish regional autonomy. 
 Cordillera autonomy is provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which specifically states that:     “There shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics within the framework of this Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines.”
    San Jose said Dagyaw was intended to improve trust and confidence between the people and their government by providing a safe and protected space for dialogue for multiple sectors across society.
    Dagyaw proponents include DILG, Dept. of Budget and Management (DBM), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Cordillera with national and regional government agencies, as well as Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. (JVOFI), Cordillera Network of NGOs and POs (CORDNET), Peoples Organization for Social Transformation (POST), Pansigedan Advocacy Cooperative (PAC), Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV), Filipino Japanese Foundation of North Luzon Inc. (Abong), Doctors for Indigenous Health and Culturally-Competent Training, Education, Networking and Governance Inc. (DITENG) and  North Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Development Center (NORLU CEDEC).
    The public can participated in Cordfillera autonomy discussions live stream of "Dagyaw 2023: Usapang Awtonomiya," through official Facebook pages of the DILG, DBM, and PIA Cordillera on Oct. 12.
    San Jose urged local government units to step up their support to the region's call for autonomy, saying LGUs were in best position to understand and address concerns and aspirations of communities.
She said    LGUs play crucial role in amplifying voices of their people and ensuring their concerns are acknowledged and resolved.
    “Our journey toward regional autonomy is not just a political endeavor; it is an affirmation of our commitment to preserving our cultural heritage, empowering our communities, and ensuring the prosperity of our region. It is about shaping a future where decisions affecting our lives and the lives of our children are made right here, within the boundaries of Cordillera,” the DILG regional director said. -- PMTG-DILG-CAR