BAGUIO CITY (PIA)--The province of Apayao kicked off the 34th Cordillera Month celebration with a program along the Apayao-Cagayan Road boundary on Monday (July 5).

Provincial officials and employees with representatives   from the national line agencies, law enforcement agencies and municipal government units attended the program which was highlighted by the beating of the “unity gong” symbolizing that the province is one with the whole Cordillera region in supporting the pursuit for regional autonomy and development.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the unity gong relay is a major activity of the Cordillera Month in July. It was conceived by the Regional Development Council to draw all the provinces and the cities in the Cordillera in pursuit of regional autonomy. The symbolic unity gong is moved from one province to another. The governors or their representatives serve as relayer and receiver usually at the political boundary area or at the seat of governance. They take turn in beating the gong at a designated area to sound-off the call for unity and they give out messages on the move towards regional autonomy.

Among those present in the opening program were Vice Governor Remy Albano, Provincial Administrator Atty. Ma. Elena Teresa E. Ravelo with municipal Mayors Hector Reuel Pascua of Pudtol, Martina Dangoy of Conner, Evelyn Martinez of Sta Marcela and Rodolfo Juan of Flora.

 The Apayao cultural group led   in performing  the traditional Isnag cultural dances “taddo and talip.”

 In line with the this year’s  theme  of  “Working Together towards Cordillera Autonomy Through Green Recovery,”  the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office gave tree seedlings  to the attendees   for them to  plant in their respective homes or offices.

The theme calls for unified action from all Cordillerans to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help in the region’s recovery through environmentally-sustainable development strategies and approaches.

 Green recovery refers to the sustainable and resilient return to growth and development after COVID-19 through environmentally-friendly technologies and practices for production such as the use of renewable energy, organic agriculture, responsible mining, and protection of our watersheds and natural resources. It highlights working in unity with the ultimate goal of attaining Regional Autonomy through Green Technologies and moving forward to recovery from this pandemic.

The PENRO Apayao with its Community ENROs in Calanasan and Conner planted more than 1,000 trees last  July 1  during the regional Cordillera Month launching   and tree planting ceremony .

The Cordillera Administrative Region  was created  on July 15, 1987  thru  Executive Order 220 to serve as  transitory   for the  establishment of  Autonomous Region of the Cordillera as provided under the  Philippine Constitution. (JDP/ RMC- PIA CAR)