THE Provincial Board of Benguet endorsed the resolution of villages Tinongdan and Dalupirip in Itogon town pushing for the creation of the Municipality of Colos.
The resolution was endorsed to the office of Congressman Nestor Fongwan Sr.
Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan on Sunday, September 15, said the creation of a new municipality remains a long process.
“We do not have any objection as long as they are qualified and meet the minimum requirements of being a separate municipality,” said the mayor adding Colos means living people nearby the river.
Earlier, Tinongdan and Dalupirip want to be a separate town, asking the assistance of Fongwan to sponsor a bill to be filed in Congress.
“It has been a long time clamor of the people of Tinongdan and Dalupirip, within the municipality of Itogon, Benguet to have their rights, cultural identity, and wellbeing as indigenous peoples,” read the resolution signed by officials of both villages.
The resolution cited the two barangays composed mostly by indigenous peoples qualified to be a municipality as to land area and population.
Both villages unanimously carried for the creation of a separate town in order to secure and protect their cultural identity and environment.
The barangays expressed the move to benefit not only Itogon but also the Benguet province prior to a joint meeting of the two barangays on August 10.
To date, the province of Benguet composed of 13 municipalities.