Malacañang has declared September 11 as a special non-working day across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to mark the 40th anniversary of the historic Mount Data Sipat Agreement.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto signed Proclamation 1389, which was officially published on the Official Gazette on August 12. The order gives residents in the region full opportunity to participate in activities commemorating the milestone peace pact.
The commemoration traces back to September 13, 1986, when the national government under former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino forged a landmark peace accord with the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), led by former priest Conrado Balweg.
Rooted in indigenous tradition, the “Sipat” represents an ancestral dispute-resolution mechanism where conflicting parties exchange symbolic tokens to pledge their commitment to peace. During the historic exchange held at Mount Data in Bauko, Mountain Province, government representatives received a spear and shield, while Balweg was presented with a rosary, a bolo, and a head ax.
The Mount Data accord stands as the first successful peace agreement brokered by the national government during the Aquino administration.
The breakthrough subsequently laid the groundwork for Executive Order 220, issued on July 15, 1987, which officially created the Cordillera Administrative Region.