Cordillera Month renews pursuit for reg’l autonomy

By Carlito Dar, Gina Dizon and June B. Bacbac

BAGUIO CITY --  The Regional Development Council’s “Unity Gong” once again toured Cordillera provinces last week to sound the call for support and strengthening of ties of local government units and communities for economic growth and progress through attainment of regional autonomy.

RDC Cordillera officials, in a media forum, Wednesday, launched the 29th celebration of Cordillera Month, which for this year adopts the theme, “CAR @29: Working together for an Autonomous and Empowered Cordillera”.

 The journey of the Unity Gong was among the highlights of Cordillera Month celebration the past four years, given a gong’s significance among different cultural communities in the region.

For this year, the Unity Gong relay kick off program was in the morning of July 9 at Baguio City hall grounds.

City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan administered a Cordilleran practice called “Pitik” during the kick-off ceremony. 

Pitik which is the same as prayer is a practice observed by many Cordillerans as a sacred procedure when invoking the name of Kabunian, the supreme ruler and other deities who have control over all events.

After the pitik, officials of this city together with Mayor Salda of La Trinidad, regional directors Milagros Rimando of the National Economic Development Authority-Cordillera and Marlon Iringan of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government guests, took part in the toasting of wine amid the beat of the gongs and the Cordillera hymn sung with fervor by the City Hall Choir.

Following this, the gong  was brought to Lagawe, Ifugao for the July 10 turn-over program.

From Ifugao, it moved to Tabuk City, Kalinga   then to Luna, Apayao on July 11; Bangued, Abra on July 12; Bontoc, Mountain Province on July 13  and La Trinidad, Benguet in the morning of July 14, then back to Baguio in the late afternoon of the same day.

DILG Regional Director Marlo Iringan said the gong’s journey was coordinated with the provincial governors and local chief executives as their presence for the turn –over ceremony had been part of the tradition.

DSWD regional director Janet Armas, in a statement, outlined the importance of the local chief executives as well as the local communities’ support for the pursuit of regional autonomy for Cordillera and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, which is mandated by the Constitution.

Armas said they are bringing the autonomy advocacy to their program beneficiaries, down to the grass root level, to explain to them what benefits autonomy could bring in their respective localities.

DSWD, who chairs the RDC Regional Social Development Committee, was the chair of this year’s technical working group for the celebration.

In the capital town of Bontoc, Mountain Province, the Abra delegation was welcomed by Mountain Province led by Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr.  in a turnover ceremony at the  grounds of the Multipurpose Building June 14.

Lacwasan  noted that construction of  the access road Tubo,Abra - Mountain Province would boost relations among  people between the two provinces- Itnegs and Tingguians from Abra and the people from Mountain Province especially adjoining  tribes Kankanaey, Applai and Bontoc.

Abra Vice Gov. Ronald Balao-as who led the Unity Gong caravan from Bangued, called  for regional autonomy saying Cordillera people’s cultural composition makes a united distinct  region.

Dept. of Interior and Local Government egional director Marlo Iringan forwarded that the event encourages people of the Cordillera to act as one to achieve regional autonomy.

The  unity gong caravan kicked off July 9 in Baguio City on to Lagawe, Ifugao; in Tabuk, Kalinga  to Luna, Apayao; to Bangued, Abra then  to Bontoc, Mountain Province on July 14 to La Trinidad, Benguet  then  back to  Baguio City.

Visiting delegate officials from Abra and officials from Mountain Province represented by  Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and mayors from the towns of the Province  along with  participating government line agencies  struck the Unity Gong  signifying  unity in the celebration of Cordillera Month this July and the pursuit for regional autonomy.

Regional Development Council co chairman and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional director Milagros  Rimando  traced the  beginnings  of regional autonomy in the ‘80s till the passage of EO 220 by then President Corazon Aquino in July 15, 1987 preparing the way for the realization of  regional autonomy.   

Prior to the ceremony held at the capital town, Tadian Mayor Anthony Wooden shared the best of ‘pinikpikan with etag’ for lunch in Tadian to the visiting delegates.