National conference on Cordillera autonomy set

MANILA, Philippines – The Regional Development Council of the Cordillera Administrative Region (RDC-CAR) is slated to conduct a national conference on Cordillera autonomy on Wednesday.

The conference dubbed “The National Conference: A National Step to an Autonomous Cordillera” seeks to bring the advocacy of Cordillera to the national level with high profile speakers set to headline the conference including Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, chair of the Cordillera Regional Development Council, speaker of the House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Mayor Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat and Natural Economic Development Authority-CAR Regional Director Milagros Rimando.

The conference seeks “to engage the national bodies and forces in this meaningful cause with the hope of harnessing a wider support so that the common vision and dream of autonomy will come to fruition very soon” since around 350 officials of national government agencies such as the Congress, the judiciary, civil organizations, business sector executives and the Cordillera leaders and elders will attend the conference.

“The national conference specifically aims to engage national bodies and relevant sectors from other regions to rally behind their advocacy and help come up with realistic measures toward the passage of a pertinent Organic Act. It is the belief that this one major national step will spur a national alliance to help realize the common vision of an Autonomous Cordillera for our future generations,” the RDC-CAR said.

According to RDC-CAR, the people of Cordillera still have to define the substance of autonomy that will fully put to practice their vision of having control over their institutions, economy and affairs.

The RDC-CAR partnered with Metro Manila-based Quality Education Providers to serves as conference facilitators. The details of the forthcoming conference may be viewed at the website www.onecordillera.org or through the Facebook account: One Cordillera, Yes to Autonomy.

Interested parties who want to join the conference may call 09178293991, 9277631 or 7097785, or send an email to [email protected].

The national conference on Cordillera Autonomy will be held on November 25 at the Novotel Manila, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.