Continue embracing development while safeguarding culture, heritage – Bulut to Cordillerans

Baguio City, Philippines – As Cordillera region starts celebrating its month-long founding anniversary this July, the Regional Development Council Chair, Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. told the public to continue embracing development yet firm on principles of safeguarding culture and heritage, lands, mountains, and waters.

This year’s commemoration unites Cordillera leaders in their quest for genuine autonomy.

The Philippine Constitution provides for the creation of the autonomous status of the region but was not realized as Cordillerans rejected two Organic Acts previously enacted due to the people’s “non-readiness for autonomy, insufficiency of information, misinformation, and very short campaign period.”

Only Ifugao voted "Yes" in January 1990 plebiscite, and only Apayao province signified support in the second plebiscite held in March 1998.

Extensive information dissemination campaigns and public consultations followed after the failed attempts, reflecting the people’s shared aspirations for self-governance.

Bulut, in his message delivered by his Co-chair Edna Tabanda during the opening program of the 36th Cordillera Month celebration Saturday, July 01, in Baguio City, underscored the leaders are growing stronger in their resolve despite multiple crises.

“We have navigated the road toward our ultimate aspiration of an autonomous region for more than three decades now… We stood our ground in the pursuit of sustainable and self-determined development focusing our vision on attaining regional autonomy,” he expressed.

The RDC Chair then urged his fellow Cordillerans who are now in a “vibrant community” to keep their doors open to development, technology, and innovation but should ensure the protection of sources of identity, environment, and natural resources.

“It is this resilience that sustains us as we continue to move forward guided by our collective values of oneness and camaraderie, and strong sense of community. We will remember today's milestone with the memory of our forebearers that guided us, thankful and proud of what they have left us as stewards and children of our land and our region. Let us continue this tradition as we continue to work in unison for the generations to come,” Bulut concluded.

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