The Regional Development Council–Regional Social Development Committee (RDC-RSDC) emphasized the need to strengthen grassroots information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns to build wider public understanding and support for the proposed Cordillera Autonomous Region, saying informed communities are key to achieving regional autonomy.
RDC – RSDC co – chairperson Arnel Cabanisas said information, education and communication (IEC) activities should extend to the grassroots level to help residents better understand the proposed autonomy and encourage wider public support.
Cabanisas stressed that educating communities remains one of the most important steps toward achieving the region’s autonomy.
“We ourselves, educate each and everyone. That’s why IEC is the most vital program also, for the grassroots level, for better understanding and better support,” Cabanisas added.
Cabanisas said public understanding of regional autonomy goes beyond government – led information campaigns, emphasizing that every Cordilleran has a role in educating others and contributing to informed discussions on the proposed measure while encouraging residents to take an active part in helping build public support for autonomy.
“For the past 39 years, we’ve been advocating the autonomy, but you should ask also yourself, what did I do for the past 39 years? And for this 39th year also, what can I do to achieve autonomy?” Cabanisas said.
Cabanisas also encouraged Cordillerans to reflect on their individual roles in advancing the autonomy campaign, noting that while the region has advocated for autonomy for nearly four decades, achieving the goal requires collective action and continued public engagement beyond government-led information drives.
He added that from the perspective of the Regional Social Development Committee, regional autonomy could help improve the delivery of government social services by allowing programs to be implemented more directly for the benefit of communities across the Cordillera.
“The social services of the government are being delivered directly already. So, I think that will be a very big change in terms of social services of the government,” Cabanisas said. Jerome Jacy Cruz | UC Intern
