CPA holds 10th Congress

By MANUEL A. LOSTE
www.nordis.net

CPA's new council, elders and officers pose for posterity. With them is BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. Photo by Marv Terceño

Baguio City — Considered as the oldest and most widespread grassroots organization advocating indigenous peoples rights in northern Luzon, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) is holding its 10th congress since its founding in June 1984.

The CPA traces its origins to the popular resistance launched by the indigenous people against the the World Bank-funded dams along the Chico river as well as the popular protest against the destructive logging of the Cellophil Resources Corporation in Abra during the martial law years.

With some help from support organizations from the churches, professionals and such organizations as the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) then headed by the late Senator Jose W. Diokno, the resistance against development aggression eventually gave birth to this Cordillera-wide organization.

This was how Atty. William “Billy” Claver, former FLAG member and Kalinga congressman recalled the origins of the CPA as he spoke during the opening ceremonies of the 10th congress. Claver eventually got elected as the founding chairperson of CPA during its first congress held in Bontoc, Mt. Province in June 1984.

“A source of pride and inspiration.” This was how Congressman Teddy Casino of Bayan Muna described the 25-year history of CPA during his keynote address. He appraised the delegates of the challenges facing peoples’ movement in the coming 2010 elections.

For his part, Renato Reyes, Jr. Secretary-General of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan updated the participants on developments of the national situation with focus on the peoples’ vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters in the aftermath of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng aggravated by the sheer incompetence and unpreparedness of the government to respond adequately to such disasters.

The two-day congress will run November 7-8 with delegates coming from the various CPA provincial and city chapters joined by representatives from various sectoral and service organizations that make up the CPA. With the theme of “Strengthen our ranks. Resolutely fight for our ancestral doman, self-determination and national democracy”, congress participants are expected to draw-up a new 3-year plan covering the period of 2010-2012.

A new set of officers will also be elected towards the end of the congress to replace the current ones. The martyrs and heroes of the peoples movement in the Cordillera will also be honored during the closing ceremonies of the 10th congress.# nordis.net