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Frank Cimatu, PDI - North Luzon Bureau For comments, suggestions and inquiries, please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com

When the clamor for a unified Cordillera was broached in the 70s, no less than a multi-sectoral chunk of political activists identified with the mountain region picked up the issued and launched it during the waning days of the strongman, President Marcos. The reason behind the clamor was fueled by the fact that the eastern section of the Cordillera range, particularly Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao, were under the political subdivision of Region 02 or Cagayan Valley region; while Benguet, Mt. Province, Abra and Baguio City were under Region 01 or Ilocos region.

These political subdivisions were re-subdivided by President Cory when she took over the reins of government in 1986, and who eventually established a separate Cordillera region through Executive Order 220 that she signed in 1987. But prior to that, a multi-sectoral group that sported the name Cordillera Broad Coalition, together with the militant NGO called Cordillera Peoples Alliance, successfully lobbied for the inclusion of a provision in the 1987 Constitution calling for the creation of an autonomous region for the Cordillera.

History moved quickly – but not so quick than how two organic laws for the establishment of a Cordillera Autonomous Region were overwhelmingly rejected in a plebiscite on January 30, 1990 and March 7, 1998, respectively, for genuine reasons uniquely identified with the voting constituents of the five provinces and Baguio.

In a report divulged to the public, lack of information about the provisions of the two organic laws that were passed in Congress was the alleged culprit. But how come the Ifugaos and Apayaos respectively voted for the organic laws in 1990 and 1988? Those two separate favorable votes defy the report about lack of information or lack of dissemination. Come to think of it, there could have been nothing that voters in Ifugao and Apayao knew about that voters in Benguet, Abra, Mt. Province, Kalinga and Baguio City did not.

Slow regional growth has been the consistent motivating element for unifying the once divided Cordillera, hence, the resounding reason behind the provisions in the first, second and now the third draft organic act that was filed in Congress last week.

And so, the clamor for faster provincial development could have been the common factor why Ifugao and Apayao wanted regional autonomy. Certainly, these two provinces knew that they were not developing the way they should, as compared to their neighbors, and they looked at regional autonomy as the means to achieve their development goals.

Today, as prime movers of the autonomy movement prepare for a third vote, are Cordillerans prepared to accept that regional development is the motivating factor for a “yes” vote? That remains to be seen. A very convincing picture that indeed regional autonomy could bring the necessary growth to a barrio, a town or a province, should be presented to the voters not only in areas where the organic law would likely be shot down, but in all of Cordillera.

Regional development should be “all for one and one for all.”

March Fianza, Baguio Reporter

‘All for one...one for all’

Torch Parade participated by regional line agencies, city and provincialemployees and school academes in celebration of World AIDS Day

Torch Parade participated by regional line agencies, city and provincialemployees and school academes in celebration of World AIDS Day

4Ps community assembly at the City Gymnasium, Tuguegarao City4Ps community assembly at the City Gymnasium, Tuguegarao City

High-school students in Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High-school in Angeles City takes a look on the information campaign materials on anti-illegal drugs of the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abusive Council (ACADAC) in their school during the Anti-Illegal Drug week being

celebrated every November

High-school students in Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High-school in Angeles City takes a look on the information campaign materials on anti-illegal drugs of the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abusive Council (ACADAC) in their school during the Anti-Illegal Drug week being

celebrated every November

HB 5595-Autonomous Region of the Cordillera Bill signed by CARCongressman with RDC officials witnessing the event

HB 5595-Autonomous Region of the Cordillera Bill signed by CARCongressman with RDC officials witnessing the event

,PDI

by Jerry Noble, Tadian, Mt. Province

Statisticsby: BAS/DA

National Statistical Coordination Board

Ilocos Norte Crime Statistics

November 28

November 28-29

November 29

November 29

November 29 EMB- establishment of Regional Ecology Center meeting, EMB Regional

Office 2, Tuguegarao City

November 27-30 Cagayan GSP- RD Licas travel to Macau-Hongkong

December 1 LGU Lal-lo lighting of Funtastic ChristMasterpieces and inauguration and

grand opening of a "A Christmas Story", Lallo, Cagayan

December 1 Regional Consultation for the Philippines' Preparation and Participation to the

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20 - RD Licas

to give Synthesis, Crown Pavillion

December 1-2 1st National Occupational Safety and Health Networks (OSHNet)

Conference, Ickhinawa Hall, OSCHC Cmpg, QC

December 2 POPCOM Regional Executive Board (RPEB) - Regional Inter-Collegiate

Population Debate

RDC2-Committee on Development and Administration

3rd quarter meeting, NEDA-R2, Tug. City

DOST orientaion seminar on Intelectual property,

CSU Carig, Tug. City

DOST orientation on automatic rain gauge, DOST-R2, Tug. City

Joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Cagayan Valley- Regional

Peace and Order Council (CV-RPOC) meeting, Crown Pavillion

Nov. 28/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Nov. 28/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16

Nov. 28/ 9:00 am Laoag City Staff Meeting Nov. 28/ 2:00 pm Vigan City Council Session Nov. 28 Sangguniang Panlungsod (Pangasinan) Regular Session Nov. 28 La Union Infocen’s PIA News Desk Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Development

Plan Nov. 29/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Nov. 29/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Nov. 29 Pangasinan Infocen’s “Pantongtongan Tayo” Radio Program over DZMQ Nov. 29 Pangasinan Infocen’s Basketball Goodwill Games and Entertainment Nov. 29/ 2:00 pm Sangguniang Panlungsod (Vigan City) Regular Session

Nov. 29/ 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB Nov. 29 La Union Infocen’s Population and Development Week

Nov.29 La Union Infocen’s PIA News Desk Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Development Plan

Nov. 30/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Nov. 30/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Nov. 30/ 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB Nov. 30 Pangasinan Infocen’s Monitoring of Celebration of Bonifacio Day

Nov. 30 La Union Infocen’s PIA News Desk Seminar-Workshop on Philippine Development Plan

Dec. 1/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Dec. 1/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Dec. 1/ 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 1/ 4:00 pm La Union’s Infocen’s “Ammuentayo” Radio Program over DZNL Dec. 1 Pangasinan Infocen’s KBP Forum Dec. 1 Pangasinan Infocen’s Journalism Seminar for DepED

Dec. 2/ 7:30 am Ilocos Norte Infocen’s “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Dec. 2/ 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen’s “For Your Info” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC)

16 Dec. 2 Pangasinan Infocen’s Media in Action Forum

Every Thursday

PIA Hour, DZWT, Bonifacio St. Baguio City

3Dec 5 10:00AM-12:00NN

Dec 6 9:30AM

Dec 6 3:00-6:00PM

December 6-11 440th Aldo ning Kapampangan (Pampanga Day), Province of Pampanga

Dec7 9:00AM DTI Kapihan

Focus Group Discussion on the Study of the Knowledge and Utilization

of Iodized Salt in Region 3, Hotel Gracelane, San Agustin,

City of San Fernando

Used Paper Project Year-End Regular Project Coordinators Meeting,

DepEd-R3, Diosdado Macapagal Government Center, Maimpis

City of San Fernando

Business Conference for the micro, Small and Medium Enterpris

(MSMEs) of Pampanga, Benigno Aquino Hall, Capitol Compound,

City of San Fernando

Dec 6-8 First Luzon Council of Human Resource Management Practitioners (CHRMP)

Convention, Fontana Leisure Park, Clarkfield, Pampanga

Dec 7 6:00AM Press Briefing on RP Energy's Coal-Fired Power PlantMeat Plus Café, Subic Bay

Freeport Zone Bldg. 65 Sampson Road, Olongapo, Zambales

Dec7 8:00AM 4th Quarterly Meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental

Health (RIACEH), Pampanga Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando

Dec 1 Lighting of Christmas Tree, Session Road, Baguio City

Dec 6 Balili River System Revitalization Coalition meeting

Benguet Sate University

Dec 7 RDC Executive Commitee Meeting with CAR Congressmen and Governors

Sulo Hotel, Quezon City

Dec 12 Enhancing Social Contract Thru Transparency & Accountability Forum with

Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales Baguio Country Club

Dec 16 111th Itogon Foundation Anniversary

Dec 16 CARE-CESG General Assembly and Year-end Assessment

NEAP Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio Cit

Dec 15 4th Quarter Meeting RLECC & Christmas Party, Log Cabin, PRO-COR, Camp Dangwa

Dec 7-8 Pre-Retirement Counseling Seminar, DTI-R3, Angeles City CSC-R3 Training Room,

Diosdado Macapagal Gov't Center, Maimpis, City of San Fdo

Dec 11 5:00PM Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards 2011, Bren Z. Guaio Convention Center,

City of San Fernando, Pampanga