On September 13, 1986, former President Corazon C. Aquino and top government officials met with representatives of the CBA-CPLA, led by the late rebel priest Conrado Balweg, for a ceremony known as the ‘sipat.’

This event, symbolized by the exchange of peace tokens, marked the end of armed conflict between the government and the rebel group and recognized the group’s pursuit of autonomy.

This agreement paved the way for further negotiations, ultimately leading to the issuance of Executive Order No. 220 on July 15, 1987, which established the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Today,September 13,2024, OPAPRU Sec. Carlito Galvez arrives at the Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain Province.

He is welcomed with traditional Cordillera gong and dances by the students of the Mountain Province State University Student Cultural Arts Group.

Sec. Galvez is the keynote speaker of the 38th Mount Data Peace Accord, or the historic “Sipat,” that led to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

(Mayor Benjie Magalong, (2nd from left) along with members of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) and the Northern Luzon tactical airwing, present during the historic signing of the SIPAT Peace Agreement.)