Baguio, La Trinidad Hosted Asian Parliaments on Population, RH, IP Rights and Other Issues

BY: REDJIE MELVIC M. CAWIS

Baguio, La Trinidad host  study visit of Asian parliamentarians on population, RH, IP rights

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 9(PIA)--- TheCcity of Baguio and the municipality of La Trinidad , Benguet  recently hosted a cultural interaction and study visit of parliamentarians from Asia and the Pacific aimed at exploring the dimensions and intricacies of culture and religion as key considerations in formulating and implementing population and reproductive health policies and programs.

The parliamentarians were delegates to the 29th Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting on Population and Development conference under the theme ‘ High Level Dialogue in a Culturally Pluralistic Society’ hosted by the Philippines.

La Trinidad and Baguio were chosen as the areas for the study visit for  their  rich culture and traditions and the presence of strong support among the local government units on population and development issues.

On August 28,  the more than 20  delegates were  welcomed   at the ‘dap- ay’ of the  Philippine Information Agency,  with the traditional “uggayam” by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan. The University of the Cordilleras Hapiyoh MI cultural group entertained the visitors  with  Cordillera dances. It was followed by interaction with  the local media on the different issues of the parliamentarians’ countries and the Philippines.

The next day, La Trinidad Mayor Edna Tabanda led the municipality in welcoming the foreign parliaments at the municipal hall. Ifugao Congressman Teddy Baguilat Jr.  was the keynote speaker during the formal meeting with indigenous people representatives and other guests from the province of Benguet.

Baguilat, a known reproductive health and IP rights advocate, gave a situationer on indigenous peoples and critical policy initiatives that will promote and protect the rights and welfare of IPs in the Philippines during the forum entitled Population and Development Challenges of the Indigenous peoples communities in the Cordillera Region in a Pluralistic Society at the La Trinidad Municipal Hall.

In his keynote speech,  he stressed critical policy initiatives that will promote and protect the rights and welfare of indigenous people.

The group had a chance to conduct an immersion at the Barangay Bahong in La Trinidad where the Ibaloi community treated them with the traditional dances and chants and one-on-one interaction with the foreign parliaments together with the barangay officials and several municipal officials.

Ms. Hitomi Tsunekawa, Manager of APDA's international affairs thanked  the hosts LGUs for their invaluable support to the study visit.

“The issues that the Cordillera people face today such as environmental degradation, migration and lack of government services and poverty is similarly being faced by Indigenous peoples in the Asia and the Pacific. But with committed parliamentarians and local government officials. I firmly believe that appropriate policies and resources can be mobilized to address these concerns," she said.

The Asian Population Development Association (APDA) based in Japan and the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) organized and hosted this gathering of parliamentarians to contribute in the on-going efforts to accelerate the achievement of the International Conference on Population and Development Program of Action (ICPD) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as one of the key issues to find workable solutions to address population challenges, while respecting different values in culturally different contexts. (JDP/ RMC- Mariciris Julian and Juliane Detran PIA-UB Interns)