NEDA chief to visit Cordillera

NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority director general and Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Regional Development Office Head Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro is set to visit the Cordillera region on October 29 to 30.

Pernia will attend the 21st IPRA Day Celebration to deliver the inspirational message on October 29. Joining him are Department of Tourism Undersecretary Marco Bautista and Presidential Adviser for IP Concerns Usec. Allen Capuyan who will give the keynote message and another inspirational message, respectively.

This will be followed in the afternoon by a site visit to the Baguio Airport after which he will be meeting with the Cordillera Regional Development Council chairperson Mauricio Domogan, the RDC Sectoral Committee Chairpersons, Congressmen and Governors, Baguio Airport stakeholders, and Autonomy IEC speakers.

During the meeting, Pernia will be apprised on the status of the region’s autonomy advocacy and will explore how NEDA can further support it at the national level.

Also to be presented is the Baguio Airport Modernization Program and the aspiration of the region to have it included in the country’s infrastructure program.

On October 30, Pernia will deliver the keynote message for the Regional Symposium on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) or the UN Agenda 2030. The Symposium was organized by NEDA-CAR

to serve as an opportunity to raise awareness and appreciation of the Agenda 2030, discuss the it’s challenges, and encourage support from government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and academe in achieving the SDGs in the region.

Aligned with UN SDGs, Cordillera autonomy is seen as the most effective way to achieve progress in the region. Since 2006, the RDC has adopted Cordillera autonomy as the central theme of regional development.

Through its Social Preparation of CAR into and Autonomous Region (SPCAR) program, NEDA Cordillera has led the way in raising awareness and gaining support for regional autonomy which is focused on attaining sustainable development and just and lasting peace in the region.