President Cory and autonomy

EDITORIAL

Former President Corazon Aquino is best remembered in the Cordillera for making the region “administrative.” To a certain extent, even some critics aligned with the Left acknowledge the now present Cordillera Administrative Region is better than having the provinces it comprises part of regions 1 and 2 under the old setup.

The Cordillera People’s Liberation Army under then rebel priest Conrado Balweg had always claimed it was due to their lobbying that the CAR was created. Now, Regional Development Council chairman Juan Ngalob is also saying Ms. Aquino signed Executive Order 220 (creating the CAR) following a ritual called sipat with Balweg in 1986 as peace pact for the CPLA to lay down their arms in fighting government and join mainstream society.

EO 220 also created the Cordillera Executive Board, Cordillera Regional Assembly and Cordillera Bodong Administration as transitory bodies to prepare the region for autonomy. But these were considered “abolished” after Congress denied funding for these due to reports of corruption in the government bodies. The CAR was also supposed to be abolished once a Cordillera Autonomous Region was set up.

On Sept. 23, 1987, Ms Aquino signed Administrative Order 36 establishing regional offices of various line agencies in this new region carved. In honoring the former president’s advocacy for unity, Ngalob, said she would always be an inspiration in the Cordillera to aspire and dream for regional autonomy.

The RDC is now pressing to make the Cordillera autonomous even if two organic acts drafted for the purpose have been rejected by regional constituents. It is also asking for funding from the national government for this.

The Philippine Constitution had stipulated the creation of a Cordillera Autonomous Region. But basing from recent surveys in the region, the people don’t want it yet. The Left says the region can only achieve a “genuine” autonomous region under a “sovereign republic” free from “US imperialism, traditional politics, authoritarianism,” among other factors.

“Pragmatics” say the region can’t support itself even with money from the national government as these would be pocketed by corrupt officials unless a functional and strict system is implemented. Government officials and lackeys are saying autonomy could be achieved with “proper information dissemination” among the populace. The RDC is asking for funds so they could disseminate what autonomy is all about, of course from a government perspective.

The Cordillera is not yet ripe for autonomy. The region needs concerned individuals with unassailable integrity, education and competence to push for it. The grassroots should be consulted. But would the national government give the money for this? Traditional politicians would always want a say in policies and control over the coffers.

Cordillera autonomy would always be a dream until such time that regional constituents would see that such governmental setup would benefit them and not make them poorer by corrupt politicians and officials. By then, maybe even President Cory would be nodding in agreement from the heavens..