BASIC INFORMATION ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AUTONOMY

Prepared by the TWG of the RDC
(Project IEC of Regional Development and Autonomy for the General Public)

What is regional autonomy?
Regional autonomy is the establishment of a regional government to which will be transferred certain powers, functions and duties with corresponding financial and other empowerment from the national government in accordance with the Constitution for the betterment of the Cordillerans.

Why should we pursue regional autonomy?
Regional autonomy is prescribed in the 1987 Constitution. Article X calls for the creation of autonomous regions in the Cordillera and in Muslim Mindanao. Unless the Constitution is amended, an autonomous region for the Cordillera should be pursued.

After two failed plebiscites in January 1989(only Ifugao voted yes) and March 1998(only Apayao voted yes), efforts to pursue regional autonomy slowed down.

In July 2000, Executive Order No. 270 winded up the operations of the CAR bodies(Cordillera Executive Board, Cordillera Regional Assembly and the Cordillera Bodong Administration) provided for under Executive Order No. 220 creating the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Currently, most programs of line agencies are hand me down or prescribed by central offices. They are often governed by national planning standards that are not appropriate for Cordillera Region having mountainous terrain and populated by pre-dominantly indigenous people. Moreover, the Cordillera has always been getting the least budget appropriation compared to other regions.

Goaded by the slow pace of development and other factors critical to the development of the region, the Regional Development Council (RDC) during its 2006 Strategic Planning Workshop at Mt. Data Hotel, Bauko, Mt. Province decided to renew the pursuit of Cordillera regional autonomy as the overarching theme of regional development. It believes that autonomous set-up could hasten CAR’s development pace considering its unique and distinct yet varied culture.

What is the legal basis for the Cordillera Regional Development Council to coordinate efforts in pursuing regional autonomy?
The Cordillera Regional Development Council was created by virtue of Executive Order 30 issued July 2001 “ which shall be the primary institution for setting the direction of economic and social development in CAR and through which regional development efforts shall be coordinated.”

The RDC as the highest policy-making body on regional development by virtue of EO 30 and other laws has the mandate to pursue efforts to advance its development.

The RDC-CAR in reinventing itself to pursue autonomy got a fresh mandate from the Office of the President and the Congress appropriating P15million and P18 M in the General Appropriations Act Calendar Year 2007 and 2008 respectively “to undertake social preparation for autonomy.”

Initially, the RDC commissioned a baseline survey on the Cordillera Readiness for Regional Autonomy. Results of a community baseline survey showed high level of unawareness on the Constitutional provision for the creation of an autonomous region in the Cordillera, inadequate understanding of autonomy and perception on the region’s lack of readiness to assume responsibilities of an autonomous region.

How will the RDC pursue Cordillera Regional Autonomy?
Based on the results of the baseline survey, the RDC decided to adopt a undertake a three-pronged approach - a) Information, Education and Communication (IEC); b) Capacitation of the regional development entities towards the goals of the 8+ areas of autonomy devolution; and the c) Program Management, Policy Steering and Monitoring and Evaluation.

An IEC will be carried out to increase people’s awareness and encourage understanding of what regional autonomy is all about. There is a need to surface people’s fears and what provisions of the last Organic Act (RA 8438) did they not understand or why did they reject it, and likewise to get inputs from as many sectors as possible. Side by side are programs/projects to gradually develop CAR’s capability to assume the would be devolved functions.

How will the IEC be carried out?
The IEC aims to inform and educate Cordillera stakeholders on the constitutional provisions on autonomy in the Cordilleras, and RDC’s Action Agenda on Regional Development and Autonomy; to enlighten, clarify misinformation/disinformation, and correct distorted views on autonomy, and to gather feedback of stakeholders on autonomy.

IEC for the general public will involve the preparation, production and distribution of materials and trail blazing materials for print and broadcast media such as flyers, radio/TV plugs, video clips, and audio visual presentation.

IEC for the youth and academe will involve the development of learning materials that will be used in the elementary, secondary, tertiary and tech-voc levels. IEC for the government functionaries will gather and inform government officials and employees and determine their issues and concerns in relation to autonomy.

On the other hand, IEC for alternative focus multi-sectoral groups such as the indigenous peoples/indigenous cultural communities and the established community aggrupations will serve as venue to discuss issues on autonomy.

What is the Core Message of the IEC ?
The Constitution provides an opportunity for the Cordilleras to become an autonomous region. Cordillerans must be informed of this opportunity for regional autonomy and must take steps to at least consider this opportunity, and subsequently avail of it or reject it, in continuing effort to accelerate socio-economic development of the Cordillera Region for the general welfare of the Cordillerans.

What is devolution?
Devolution is the transfer of power and authority from the national government to the local government units,(provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays). The nature of power transfer is political and the approach is territorial making devolution inherently tied with local autonomy. The power and authority devolved to LGUs are assumed to build their capabilities for self-government and develop them fully as self-reliant communities.

What are the 8+ areas of devolution?
1) Administrative Organization;
(2) Creation of Sources of Revenues;
(3) Ancestral Domain and Natural Resources;
(4) Personal, Family and Property Relations;
(5) Regional Urban and Rural Planning Development;
(6) Economic, Social and Tourism Development;
(7) Educational Policies;
(8) Preservation and Development of the Cultural Heritage;
(9) Such other matters as maybe authorized by law for the promotion of the general welfare of the region

How will capacitation on 8+ areas of regional governance be carried out?
The Capacitation component seeks to develop and strengthen the capacities of the RDC and its partners in the regional line agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges and private sector leading to the region assuming the 8+ areas of devolution.

The RDC has started capacitating RDC its partners in advocating, formulating and implementing regional programs/projects along the 10 Key Focus Areas of the CAR Regional Development Plan namely Good Governance, Social Development, Indigenous Culture and Knowledge, Physical Integration, Watershed Cradle and Balanced Ecosystem Model, Major Energy Producer, Ecotourist Destination, Greens and Ornamental Grocers, Prime Education Center, Knowledge-Based Industries and Agri-Industrial Activities and the special concern on poverty alleviation.

How will Program Management, Policy Steering and Monitoring and Evaluation be undertaken?
This component aims to broaden, deepen and strengthen the baseline situational analysis by benchmarking the capacity of the Cordillera region in the 8+ areas of regional governance. It also sets up the monitoring and evaluation system to track the progress of the region as well as assess the effectiveness of RDC interventions. Furthermore, this component capacitates the RDC to manage better its subsequent actions in advancing regional autonomy and development.

Who is a Cordilleran?
Based on RA 8438, the term Cordilleran shall apply to all Filipino citizens who are domiciled within the territory of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

How is autonomy different from federalism?
With autonomy, the Cordillera will be one region with its own structures for self-government.
Federalism involves the establishment of relatively small, co-existing political units which are geographically within the boundaries of economic interaction and territorial reach of the central government. Federal states are established as regional localities that are free to handle local affairs according to the specific desires and needs of their constituents.

Can an autonomous region exist in a federal form of government?
Yes, according to Senator Aquilino Pimentel, an autonomous government is still possible within a federal form of government.