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Federalism cheapest way to achieve Cordillera autonomy,says Domogan on debates
BY DEXTER A SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The implementation of a federal form of government in the country is the easiest and cheapest way to achieve an autonomous status for the Cordillera.

Baguio City Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan bared this saying Cordillera congressmen are supportive of the move of the Regional Development Council here in reviving debates on how to achieve autonomy.

The 1987 Constitution mandates the creation of autonomous regions in the Cordillera and Mindanao regions.

Domogan said the federal form of government is the most practical way to experience the benefits of being autonomous since powers of the national government will be devolved to the federal government while respecting the powers of the local government units.

However, the only available means to institute reforms in the present set up of government through the controversial Charter Change has been shelved by the leadership of the House of Representatives due to pressure from various sectors of the country.

Domogan said the effort of the present administration to amend the Constitution is being misinterpreted by most sectors when in fact, its ultimate objective is to ensure the smooth flow in the implementation of various reforms designed to uplift the economic situation of the country.

In a federal form of government, the lawmaker said autonomy is lodged in the federal government thereby allowing the local government units to have easier access to its available resources to augment existing resources to be utilized for development.

Domogan said local government units will now be the ones providing the share of the national government from the utilization of its resources and collection of taxes unlike in the present set up where it is the national government that calls the shots in the release of funding for priority projects in a certain area.

Worst, economic development in a presidential bicameral form of government could be stalled by greed luck like what is currently happening in the country where the Senate, which is dominated by opposition lawmakers, and the House of Representatives, which is controlled by administration congressmen, could not get their acts together.

Domogan cited as example the gridlock between the House and the Senate resulting to failure of both chambers to pass the national budget in 2005 and 2006.

The three-time lawmaker said a federal form of government could help jumpstart the development of the Cordillera, especially the provinces which are members of the Club 20 poorest provinces, into progressive communities that could contribute to the country’s projected economic growth.

Domogan said the House might resume debates on the proposed amendment of the Constitution after they have acted on all the priority measures of the Arroyo administration, particularly the passage of the P1.227 trillion national budget next year.