Cordillera still not ready for self-rule

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - While advocates of autonomy are drumming up the campaign for the region's self-governance, still others are yet to be convinced that the region is ready. Itogon Mayor Mario Godio said the Cordillera region is not yet ready for self-governance Godio, president of the League of Municipal Mayors-Benguet, said the region's quest for autonomy would succeed if only the people could witness a developed infrastructure, particularly road networks. "We are not yet ready for autonomy," the mayor said. The Regional Development Council (RDC) has revived the campaign for a Cordillera Autonomous Region. To maximize resources, the RDC tapped the academe to help in the information and education campaign for Cordillera autonomy. The Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority were tasked to integrate autonomy discussions in their respective curricula. An autonomous status for the region is provided in the 1987 Constitution. Two plebiscites have been done in pursuit of self-governance, but the two attempts failed. - Sun.Star, Baguio