March 29, 2024

July 15, 2020 is a special non-working day in the Cordillera to mark its 33rd founding anniversary.
Malacanang issued Proclamation 977 declaring July 15, 2020 as a special holiday in the entire region for the people to celebrate subject to conditions given the prevailing state of public health emergency in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is but fitting that the people of the Cordillera be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, physical distancing, and other public health measures,” the proclamation states.
The Regional Development Council is leading the year’s celebration with the theme, “One resilient Cordillera: Embracing the new normal towards recovery.” It will highlight how regional autonomy will enable the preservation and strengthening of Cordillera culture, which is the foundation of the region’s resilience and socio-economic recovery.
The Cordillera is composed of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, and Baguio City.
RDC Vice Chair and National Economic Development Authority Regional Director Milagros Rimando said due to existing community quarantine, it will be a blended celebration or a mix of virtual and face-to-face activities.
“Nagbago ang celebration because of the Covid-19, but we cannot postpone the celebration. Instead, we will have a limited and simple celebration,” Rimando said as several activities held during the month-long anniversary celebration have to be cancelled, such as the Unity Gong Relay and the grand Cordillera Day parade and program.
On July 15, RDC members led by the Economic and Development Sectoral Committee will gather at the University of the Philippines Baguio for a simple celebration with Agriculture Sec. William Dar, Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for the Cordillera, as keynote speaker.
The activity will be streamed online and in social media for other RDC members, local government officials and employees, and the rest of the Cordillerans to join.
Messages from the Cordillera governors, congressmen, and other key officials will be delivered online.
The program will be live over the social media pages of the NEDA-Cordillera and the SPCAR, Philippine Information Agency Cordillera, and other regional government agencies and LGUs. – Redjie M. Cawis