Abra folks urge gov’t to hasten development

REPRESENTATIVES from various people’s organizations in Abra underscored there is a need to immediately address the status of peace and order in their area, and their concerns on the delivery of social development projects from the government which they claimed as slow.

This was the gist of the forum on Peace and the Right to Self-determined Development held in Bangued, Abra last month.

Milagros Rimando, National Economic Development Authority regional director and Regional Development Council vice chair suggested these issues and concerns can be solved through expanded dialogue with the agencies concerned.

Rimando added there is a need to improve the road network to improve access to social development services with the slow delivery of government service and projects.

The NEDA official shared the Ambisyon 2040 and the strategic framework for attaining just and lasting peace which is outlined in the Cordillera Regional Development Plan.

She mentioned this will be achieved, through the decrease in poverty incidence and disruptions to community life, and implementation of peace agreements and peace building activities.

Rimando also called for support to regional autonomy towards federalism saying that autonomy will strengthen indigenous systems that promote peace and socio-economic development in the region.

The forum was organized by the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera (CDPC) attended by the various people’s organizations in Abra and its national and international partners with representatives from some regional government agencies.