BAGUIO CITY- – Regional Development Council – Cordillera Chairperson and Abra Governor Maria Jocelyn Bernos calls for a united Cordillera in overcoming the challenges of COVID–19, in continuing the work towards regional autonomy and development, and in helping the government in nation building.
“While we were busy implementing policies and programs towards further development in our respective local government units, COVID – 19 forced us to make readjustments in our priorities. Because of our resilience, our perseverance, our optimism as Cordillerans, we will survive, we will recover, we will overcome because we, the Cordillerans, see difficulties as opportunities to be our best”, Bernos said in State of Region Address (SORA) on Wednesday.
“As we are certain that COVID – 19 is not the last formidable adversary that we shall go up against, let us prepare ourselves to work with more challenges, armed with Cordilleran courage, dignity and resilience, guided by our vision of an autonomous region where the benefits of development are enjoyed by all.”
“Let us remain untiring in our efforts to support the national government, passionate in fighting for an Autonomous Region of Cordillera, and unwavering in working towards our long-term vision of matatag, maginhawa At panatag na buhay for all Cordillerans by 2040”, she added.
Bernos also highlighted the gains of CAR in 2019 which include improved employment rate; increased investments in Philippine Economic Zone and stock corporations and partnerships, as well as among sole proprietorship firms registered by the Department of Trade and Industry, and the slight recovery in the agriculture sector after the huge losses during typhoons Ompong and Rosita in 2018.
The governor also commended the LGUs in CAR that improved their competitiveness ranking in the 2019 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) .These are the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province; the cities of Baguio and Tabuk, the capital towns of Bangued, La Trinidad, Lagawe; and the municipalities of Lagayan, Maibcong, Luna, Bakun, Kabayan, Tuba, Alfonso Lista, Pasil, Tinglayan, Paracelis and Tadian.
Bernos also reported that the poverty incidence was also successfully reduced from 22.7 percent in 2015 to 12 percent in 2018. In terms of infrastructure development, paved national roads have increased from 86 percent in 2017 to 94 percent in two years. Moreover, regional trunkline under the Cordillera Roads Improvement Project registered completion of 99 percent in 2019.
She also cited the noted accomplishments on health infrastructure under the Health Facility Enhancement Program and school buildings under the Basic Education Facilities Fund, and the aggressive efforts in reforestation under the National Greening Program and the maintenance and protection of the region’s forest cover.
“Moving forward, we shall continue to build from the momentum of previous years to ensure that our growth as a region is inclusive and sustainable; that basic services are available and accessible to all and most importantly, that we finally succeed in our quest for regional autonomy,” Bernos stressed.
The SORA that was aired live through the Philippine Information Agency – led Kapihan media forum at the RDC Hall at NEDA-CAR served as the culminating activity of the Cordillera Month.
In the forum, NEDA – CAR Regional Director Milagros Romando also presented the highlights of the 2019 Macro– economy report and impacts of the COVID – 19 health crisis to regional development while sectoral committee reports were also presented by DTI RD Myrna Pablo on Economic Development; DSWD RD Leo Quintilla on Social Development; DILG RD Marlo Iringan on Development Administration; DENR RD Ralph Pablo on Environment; Ryan Dale Mangusan on Indigenous People’s Concerns and Reinaldo Bautista Jr on Infrastructure Development. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
