Mayor Gumilab urged Cordilleran leaders to work harder for autonomy

Tinglayan, Kalinga – Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, on the 34th Cordillera Anniversary celebration, is appealing to fellow leaders in Cordillera to strengthen their solidarity to strive harder in taking necessary actions to achieve autonomy, which the people had been clamouring since 1987.

“Three decades and four years is too long; an ordeal in achieving our promised autonomy. Hence, it is high time for our leaders and people of the Cordillera to do more and work harder to be one Cordillera,” Gumilab said.

The mayor said that past leaders have shown and paved the path for said pursuit, ‘fighting for self-determination with unwavering conviction and valor despite setbacks and troubles to realize’ but said aspiration has yet to be attained.

Moreover, he said that simultaneous to the quest for autonomy is the effort and attempt to rebuild the region’s sustainable environment. He cited that during the Covid-19 pandemic when movement was restricted, people had greatly relied on nature for the production of food and to sustain their economic needs.

“Yet when we looked back on how we treated our environment in pursuit for development, it showed a stark contrast to how our predecessors achieved their progress,” he stated.

He also underscored that with the Indigenous environmental systems, our ancestors were able to create wonders the world has admired.

He cited that their resources and conservation of cultures led them to live in harmony while pursuing development for the people.

“Not only they have shown us their strength in unity when they fought for freedom for their children to call their own, but also, they have shown us how to live in harmony with nature while pursuing development,” the mayor underlined.

With this, he urged the Cordillerans to work together and be brave pioneers of this time for them to be able to bring glory and honor to the region.

OTHER NEWS

Pasil lauded for regular blood donation drive

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information