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By REDJIE CAWIS / PIA

PUDTOL, Apayao — Apayao Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut – Begtang reiterated the need for consultations on the issues and concerns of the Cordillera Autonomy and the proposed third organic act so that people can decide well for the future of the region.

“I believe that for the proposal to prosper and finally get the nod of the majority, we must consider what our people need and want,” Begtang stressed.

Begtang was the keynote speaker during the Joint Provincial Development Council Meeting and the Cordillera Regional Autonomy Consultative Meeting conducted here last week.

“Through the conduct of consultative meetings such as this, we can avoid getting the blame from our people for not actively involving them in the decision-making process which greatly affects their lives,” Begtang said.

She pointed out that the acceptance of the proposal should not start and come alone from elected officials, rather it must start from the people.

The lawmaker added that opinions and sentiments of the people will be considered by the officials and from there, ‘we can give further recommendations to the proper authorities. This way we can avoid the mistake of deciding for our people.’

Begtang appreciated the consultation meeting that was done in the municipality of Pudtol. This, she said is one way of reaching out to the grassroots and not only to the provincial and city level.

She admitted that even after nine years of being the chief executive of the municipality of Calanasan, she is still in the dark of what autonomy has to offer especially to a province like Apayao.

But assured that as an official of the province, she will actively help in the rigid campaign and information dissemination for her people to understand the Cordillera autonomy.

She also stressed that as the Representative of the province, the opinion and decision of the majority of the Yapayaos and not her personal opinion, will be the basis of her decision to support or not to support autonomy for the Cordillera. # nordis.net