SPECIAL KAPIHAN – 39TH CORDILLERA MONTH- Regional Development Council Infrastructure and Social Sector officials present issues and gains . Present are RDC co-chairperson Arnel Cabanisas, DPWH-CAR Regional Director Editha Babaran, DSWD-CAR Regional Director Enrique Gascon, PSR Maria Jorqueza Hakcholna and Atty. Willybroth Managtag. The activity held on July 22 at the Philippine Information Agency office in Baguio City. Photo by Primo Agatep
BAGUIO CITY — While the Cordillera region has made significant strides in infrastructure and social development, major challenges continue to hinder progress, particularly among indigenous communities, according to officials during the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) Infrastructure and Social Sector Forum held on July 22.
Among the most pressing concerns raised were the high poverty rates among indigenous peoples, a shortage of health workers in geographically isolated towns, a regionwide housing backlog of 7,000 units, and infrastructure investments that remain largely dependent on national government planning and funding.
The forum, held at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office in Baguio City as part of the 39th Cordillera Month celebration, highlighted both the region’s development gains and the need for greater autonomy to address its unique social and geographic challenges.
Present during the event were Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Regional Director Enrique Gascon, Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera Regional Director Editha Babaran, RDC Co-Chairperson Arnel Cabanisan, Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Director Maria Jorqueza Hakcholna, and lawyer Willybroth Managtag, who discussed key provisions of House Bill 6981 on Cordillera autonomy.
Indigenous Peoples Most Affected by Poverty
Gascon presented the current state of the region’s social sector, noting that indigenous peoples comprise the largest number of poor individuals in the Cordillera. Farmers and children likewise registered the highest poverty incidence rates in the region.
The health sector also faces persistent challenges, including a shortage of healthcare workers in remote municipalities and immunization coverage that remains below national targets.
In education, public school enrollment has declined by 7.5 percent, equivalent to 33,809 learners lost since School Year 2021-2022. Junior high school students account for the largest share of dropouts for School Year 2024-2025.
The housing sector continues to grapple with limited land availability, with only 15 percent of Cordillera’s land classified as alienable and disposable, while 85 percent remains forestland. This limitation has contributed to a backlog of around 7,000 housing units across the region.
Gascon also noted that farms and built-up areas are increasingly encroaching into protected and forest lands due to land scarcity, while many resettlement sites lack basic facilities and livelihood opportunities.
Despite these challenges, he emphasized that the region has recorded gains in health, housing, education, and social protection programs.
He said greater regional autonomy would allow social services to be designed around the Cordillera’s unique cultural and geographic realities.
“Autonomy would enable social services to be planned around Cordillera conditions, including culturally responsive education, regional health priorities, housing needs, protection for vulnerable sectors, and employment concerns that may not be fully addressed by uniform national programs,” Gascon said.
Infrastructure Gains Tempered by Geographic Challenges
For the infrastructure sector, DPWH-Cordillera Regional Director Editha Babaran reported substantial progress in road development, electrification, water access, and digital infrastructure over the years.
Under the Cordillera Road Improvement Project (CRIP), national road paving is nearing completion, with primary roads already 100 percent paved, while secondary and tertiary roads have reached 98.09 percent and 96.8 percent completion, respectively.
However, Babaran pointed out that the region’s mountainous terrain, fragmented implementation processes, and limited fiscal flexibility continue to constrain infrastructure delivery.
She said infrastructure investments remain heavily reliant on national planning and budget allocations, limiting the region’s ability to prioritize projects tailored to its needs. Air connectivity in the Cordillera has weakened in recent years, while internet service quality remains below regional targets.
At present, public works, transportation, water services, energy, and natural resource management are largely planned and funded at the national level.
Babaran, who hails from Region 2 and expressed personal support for Cordillera autonomy, said greater regional autonomy could significantly improve infrastructure development.
“With regional autonomy, a region-led infrastructure system would give Cordillera greater authority over public works, transportation, water services, energy, and natural resource management,” she said.
She added that autonomy would allow infrastructure planning to be integrated with the region’s land use patterns, environmental conditions, and indigenous cultural considerations.
Greater fiscal capacity, she said, would enable the Cordillera to invest more effectively in infrastructure projects that directly address the region’s geographic and developmental needs.
The forum underscored that while the Cordillera has made notable progress, longstanding social and infrastructure challenges remain