BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The province of Apayao and the Regional Development Council (RDC) – Committee for the Indigenous Peoples Concerns will host this year’s celebration of the Cordillera Month in July.
The CIPC is chaired by Mountain Province Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples headed by Regional Director Atty. Atanacio Addog.
RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority – CAR Regional Director Susan Sumbeling said the RDC has approved the Work and Financial Plan for the 35th Cordillera Month celebration during the recent RDC 1st Quarter Meeting last March 9.
This year’s celebration was supposed to be hosted by the province of Abra but the provincial government begged off due to the effects of the earthquakes that hit the area in 2022.
“RDC Chairman and Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. has accepted and was very much willing to host this year’s Cordillera Month celebration,” Sumbeling said. The province first hosted the event in 2015.
Among the initially approved activities include the traditional Cordillera Unity Gong Relay, the Cordillera Day main and culminating programs, the Kapihan media forums, the webinars, and the various information education communication campaign programs.
The committee also approved the search for the Mr. and Miss Cordillera Youth Ambassadors or champions of Cordillera autonomy and development which was first introduced in the province of Apayao as the Dayag ti Cordillera back in 2015.
For his part, Bulut said that that the hosting of the Cordillera Month is a way to promote the province of Apayao and its people with their rich culture and traditions along with the unique eco-tourism destinations. It is an opportunity to showcase the province on its way to recovery after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last February, the province fully opened the province to locals and tourists thru the 28th Foundation Anniversary celebration and the Say-am Festival activities which brought back the traditional activities and festivities in Apayao pre-pandemic time. **JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR