Cordillera’s road to recovery, surviving in the new and better normal

September 5, 2021 Headlines

While the Philippines was on its way to becoming a middle income country between 2016 and 2019 with an average economic growth of six percent, the Cordillera Administrative Region made its fair share in lifting the country’s overall economic status when its regional economy grew by five percent, according to the National Economic Development Authority-CAR.
In fact, CAR was the fifth region with the lowest poverty incidence at that time at 6.7 percent. However, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hit nations all over, and country’s economic growth suffered major setbacks since transportation and people’s mobility, on which economic activities are anchored, had to be restricted in an attempt to stop the spread of the infectious disease.
As paramount consideration was placed on the health to protect the citizens from the deadly virus, the country initially in Luzon experienced the highest form of community quarantine when the entire area was placed under the enhanced community quarantine.
The Cordillera, aside from its normal activities and economic affairs, was among the hardest hit by the lockdowns since its two cities and six provinces are highly dependent on tourism and active mobility.
Suffice it to say that the COVID-19 pandemic was and is still the lowest point not only for the region and entire the country, but for all nations.
In the State of Region Address delivered on July 30 as reported by the Philippine Information Agency, NEDA-CAR Regional Director Susan Sumbeling reported that the regional economy suffered its worst decline in its economic history. Regional economy contracted by 9.9 percent with loss of income and employment as businesses, small and large, shut down and cut operations.
The vibrant tourism industry of the region was also halted due to border closures and limited public transport services.
As of May 2020, the estimated total losses from the pandemic reached P18.6 billion. Despite the downs last year, Sumbeling said the pandemic also presented opportunities as the region struggled to recover from its losses. It led to the emergence of new industries and income opportunities and the lockdowns also resulted to fewer crimes, lower number of vehicular accidents, and even improved air quality.
More importantly, the pandemic surfaced the region’s exemplary qualities and indigenous value and practices, as well as the Cordillerans’ brand of discipline, cooperation, perseverance and resilience.
As the region prepared its road to recovery after the national government through the National Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases started to ease lockdown classifications depending on the number cases and availability of healthcare facilities, the NEDA-CAR and the Office of Civil Defense-CAR led government agencies in drafting a Recovery and Resiliency Plan (RRP) that hoped to address the economic losses and recovery needs of the Cordillera on account of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plan was approve last Mayo 28, 2020. The NEDA-CAR, vice-chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery, said the plan aimed to enable the region to recover from the crisis with improved resilience in responding to the new normal.
It includes short and medium-term priority strategies, projects, programs, and activities covering the productive, social, and infrastructure sectors including those that cut across sectors.
The plan was drafted together with the regional offices of Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture and Department of Information and Communication Technology.
The plan discussed the goals of restoring a stable economy by creating sustainable income opportunities, ascertaining the public of adequate health systems, ensuring seamless and uninterrupted supply chain and logistics, as well as enhancing coordination and cooperation between the national government and local government units and the private sector.
The technical working group tasked to prepare the RRP urged local government units to update their comprehensive development plans and local disaster risk reduction management plans to better prepare for future pandemics.
The plan puts forward the importance of a systematic process in identifying vulnerable sectors. The crisis showed the need for better internet connectivity and the need to build the capacities of schools, businesses, and governments to use information and communication technology and adapt to the new normal of reduced face-to-face interaction.
Cordillera communities also made use of national government aid via the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act which focused on response and revival.
Thom F. Picaña with reports PIA-Cordillera/ABN