The thrust of enhancing the advocacy on development autonomy must be brought down to the grassroots level, especially among the young Cordillerans, to formulate a better perspective on achieving self-governance in the future, thus, the need to incorporate the concept in the basic and advanced education curriculum for all private and public schools in the region.

This was bared by Juan Ngalob, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority and interim chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC).  He added that the education sector is in the process of firming up the incorporation of the development autonomy concept in the curriculum.

The education technical working group is composed of representatives from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, state universities and colleges and private higher education institutions in the region.

The incorporation of development autonomy concept to the basic and advanced education curriculum is geared towards educating the young on the real purpose of having to attain an autonomous status for the Cordillera region in the future.

In the two failed plebiscites for the ratification of separate Organic Acts for the creation of an autonomous region in the Cordillera, the education sector had been influential in convincing the electorate to reject the autonomy laws primarily because of issues that were not clearly addressed, particularly the issue on devolution whereby they had fears that they will not be able to receive their salaries on time because of the devolved functions to the regional government.

According to Ngalob, development autonomy issues will be tackled in the basic history subjects in the elementary and secondary levels as well as History and Philippine Government subjects in the college and technical-vocational courses.

He admitted that the road towards achieving regional autonomy will take some time but there is a need for it to start now although it will be in a slow but sure manner so as not to bungle the efforts in coming up with a third Organic Act.