Govenment backs Cordillerans’ march for peace, development

BAUKO, Mountain Province, Philippines — The government supports efforts of the people of the Cordilleras to attain genuine peace and development, according to Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr.

Galvez said the administrative region has come a long way since the signing of the Mt. Data Sipat Peace Accord in 1986.

He said the region is expected to continue pushing efforts aimed at achieving peace, progress and autonomy.

“The national government remains steadfast in its efforts to support our Cordilleran brothers and sisters’ march toward lasting peace and sustainable development through the implementation of various peace programs, projects and activities,” Galvez said in a speech during the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the signing of the Mt. Data Sipat agreement on Friday.

It has been almost four decades since the government, under the administration of then president Corazon Aquino, and the Cordillera People’s Libration Army, led by Conrado Balweg, signed a ceasefire agreement on Sept. 13, 1986.

The ceasefire ended the decades-long armed conflict in the Cordilleras and resulted in the issuance of Executive Order 220 on July 15, 1987, which established the Cordillera Administrative Region.