Bauko, Mountain Province – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bauko, Mountain Province kicked-off the autonomy information drive in the first cluster of barangays at Tapapan Elementary School Open Gymnasium last February 15, 2019.

Close to 300 barangay residents from Guinzadan Central, Guinzadan Norte, Guinzadan Sur, Leseb and Tapapan listened to the discussions of Bauko IEC Speakers Atty. Sebio Badcao, Mr. Ricardo Masidong and veteran speaker Mr. Gary Pekas on the basic concepts, history, three core messages and salient features of Cordillera autonomy.

Tapapan Punong Barangay Mr. Pio T. Siti recalled that when Mountain Province was still part of the Ilocos Region along with Abra, Benguet and Baguio City, he had to process the replacement of his lost driver’s license in San Fernando, La Union. He fears that his children and grandchildren will share the same experience when Mountain Province votes no in the future ratification of the autonomy organic act. He then encouraged the participants to share the autonomy message to their households and neighbors, and stressed that the realization of Cordillera regional autonomy is for the future generation.

Several participants signed a Commitment of Support to Autonomy towards Federalism as part of the activity.

“Isnan nayda ungung-a, nu dumanun tu nan tiempo et esakayu menbotos, sinu man di ibotos yu nu esakayu ipapati ay adjan yu wennu sakayu ipapati ay kayat yu, sapay kuma ta menbotos kayu gapu tay naawatan yu, (To the youth, when the plebiscite comes, whether you vote yes or no, I hope that you vote because you understood autonomy),”  Pekas said during the open forum. This message also goes to other sectors as IEC activities are intensified to reach as many Cordillera stakeholders as possible.

More autonomy information drives are slated in three clusters covering the remaining 17 barangays of Bauko.

This 2019, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-CAR) in partnership with the LGUs Bontoc, Sagada and Tadian will lead simultaneous autonomy information drives. LGU-Paracelis already completed autonomy IECs while the remaining municipalities were covered through information drives spearheaded by LGU-Mountain Province.