Baguio City (14 February) -- An on-the spot essay writing contest on Cordillera Regional Development and Autonomy will be held simultaneously in the city and the six provinces of the Cordillera region on February 27, 2009 at 9:00 in the morning.

The contest will provide an opportunity for any interested Cordilleran to share their views on Cordillera regional development and autonomy. The specific topic for the competition, however, shall be given during the contest itself.

Mechanics of the contest are as follows: a) open to all interested Cordilleran regardless of age and educational background except members of the Regional Development Council and their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity; b) only one entry per participant is accepted; c) entries should be in English; d) number of words (excluding title) should be 1,500 words or less; e) entries should not have been published in any paper or journal or posted in the web; f) when submitting the entry, participant must include details such as complete name, address, age, school (if studying), profession, contact number; and g) all entries shall be submitted to the TWG on IEC for Regional Development and Autonomy for the general public in Baguio City where centralized judging will be done to choose the best essays.

Adjudged winners for overall best essays will be awarded cash prizes on March 2009 in a kapihan forum as follows: 1st prize - P6,000.000; 2nd prize - P4,000.00 and 3rd prize 2,000. There will also be provincial winners who will receive P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

The following are the venues for the competitions and the respective coordinators to contact: Baguio City- Baguio City National High School, Gov. Pack Road, contact persons are March Fianza (09272406292) and Jonathan Llanes (09193493581).

Apayao - venue to be announced later, contact person is Xandred Anne Claveria (09178998085).

Abra - Social Hall, Provincial Capitol, Bangued, Abra - contact persons are Maria Teresa Benas (074 7528477) and Frances Judith Centeno (074 752 8252);

Benguet - Ben Palispis Hall (Auditorium), Provincial Capitol, La Trinidad - contact person is Atty. Delmar Carino (09185242300);

Ifugao - Lagawe Central School, Lagawe, contact persons are Vivencia Bulayungan (074 382 2120) and Jun Dumar (074 382 2106);

Kalinga - Conference Hall, Schools Division Office, Bulanao, Tabuk. Contact persons are Basil Baluyan (074 423 0921) and Peter Balocnit (09285204446); and

Mt Province - Mt Province Multipurpose Bldg., Bontoc. Contact persons are Donalyn Balio (074 462 4299) and Juliet Saley (074 602 1097).

The activity is under the RDC Project 'Information Education Communications on Regional Development and Autonomy for the General Public.'