Cordillera Officials Advocate for Regional Autonomy During Anniversary Celebrations

CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION – Officials from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) signed a manifesto advocating for regional autonomy during the kickoff of the month-long celebration marking the region’s 37th anniversary. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to achieve self-governance, despite previous setbacks in plebiscites held in 1990 and 1998.

According to Assistant Secretary Antonio Tabora from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Cordillera Administrative Region, there is renewed hope that the current administration under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will support their cause for autonomy. “Ngayon nandito ako, kasama natin si Presidente, para matamo natin ang ating pangarap na maging autonomous ang Cordillera kaya pagtrabahuhan natin ng mabuti (I am here now, and we are with the President in reaching our dream to become an autonomous Cordillera so we have to work on that),” Tabora stated during the event.

The manifesto highlights the region’s rich natural resources and the economic limitations imposed by centralized control, which has hindered local development. It argues that autonomy would allow the region to better manage its resources and implement economic policies tailored to its unique needs and strengths. Tabora emphasized the importance of engaging the community to understand the benefits of autonomy, moving beyond mere official endorsements.

The pursuit of autonomy for CAR dates back to July 1987 when President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order 220, which created the administrative region and set the groundwork for eventual autonomous governance. Despite the constitutional provision for only two autonomous regions in the Philippines, with the other being the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao inaugurated in 2019, CAR officials remain committed to their goal.

Tabora also mentioned that President Marcos is invited to join the upcoming Cordillera Day celebration on July 15 in Bangued, Abra, which will serve as an opportunity to discuss the region’s aspirations directly with him. “We will talk to him. That is one of our functions, to bring the region to Malacañang,” he added.