By Gina Dizon
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Issues on benefit sharing on use of natural resources, representation on decision making, and public trust were among the major questions forwarded by participants here during the recently held consultation on regional autonomy last Nov. 5.
Said consultation aimed to gather comments and recommendations for the proposed drafting of the third organic act currently implemented by drafting committee chairman Mauricio Domogan and sub-committees in the provincial levels.
The Mountain Province sub-committee is composed of five sectors representing the elders, academe, business, religious, and Non Government Organizations.
The drafting of the proposed law preliminarily done through information and consultation activities is aimed at reaching the six provinces of the Cordillera region.
During the consultation here in Bontoc, National Economic Development Authority senior staff Michael Umaming reiterated Domogan’s proposed five core principles of the proposed autonomy law.
These are permanent regional identity, non diminution of existing benefits and powers, nationally paid officials and employees continually paid by national government, subsidy from the national government, and sufficient budgetary allocation from the national government.
Following questions on benefit sharing forwarded by participants, Mountain Province sub-committee chairman of the drafting committee Frank Odsey said that the definition of ‘host communities’ in local government unit territories where its natural resources are used by business companies and institutions with monetary interests, should be expanded to include those where natural wealth originates.
Citing the example of the Chico River which originate from Mt Data Bauko and flow to Isabela, Odsey said the expanded coverage of ‘host communities’ shall then provide for the latter's share in fees paid by irrigation users to the National Irrigation Authority.
Mountain Province is also host to national-based companies including SMART and GLOBE which pay taxes directly to the national collecting agencies in Makati or Manila where their main offices are found. The answer as to whether host local government units are receiving their share in the taxes paid by SMART or GLOBE was noted during said consultation.
Questions on representation by sectors were also forwarded on participating in local governance and decision making.
Alipio Banaken representing the farmers’ sector forwarded issues on vegetable imports harming local products, and fluctuation of prices which does not assure farmers’ income.
Claro Esoen representing the academe also forwarded the need for indigenous knowledge to be integrated/incorporated in the educational curriculum of elementary, high school and college learning.
Citing a number of concerns, school teacher Belinda Tinacba asked assurance for public trust on the creation of an autonomous region.
Bontoc barangay kagawad Jun Sarmento cited need for barangay consultations to inform respective constituents. The need for sectoral consultations was also noted.
Bontoc barangay captain Erlinda Bucaycay also asked how the initial P33 million autonomy budget was spent much as there was no visible autonomy drive in the province in previous years.
The current autonomy drive for the year 2010 has a P15 million budget administered by the NEDA, secretariat arm of the Regional Development Council. Each province of the region was allotted P500,000 each to implement the autonomy drive.
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