Aquino’s support for regional autonomy drive a ‘big break,’ says RDC

BAGUIO CITY – The commitment of President Aquino to consult with Cordillera autonomy advocates for regional self-governance is a big break, the Regional Development Council said.

However, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, chairman of the drafting committee of the working document for the autonomy campaign, said all sectors in the region must unify their stand and come out with a working draft of what people want to be on the status of autonomy they want before presenting the same to the President for support.

In his report relative to the gains of his administration in his first 100 days in office, President Aquino earlier underscored the importance of talking to autonomy advocates to ascertain the extent of self-rule the region wants before supporting the same.

According to Domogan, provincial sub-committees were urged to complete massive consultations in their respective areas of jurisdiction to get sentiments of the grassroots before it will be presented to the regional committee for deliberation and the eventual crafting of a working document.

At the same time, the RDC downloaded to the six provinces and the city government here P500,000 each from the P15-million autonomy information campaign fund so that it will be utilized by the sub-committees to make the effort to get the real sentiments of the people on the desire to have autonomous governance.

Aside from recognizing the role of indigenous peoples (IPs) in nation-building, the 1987 Constitution recognized the neglect of the national government to the needs of people in the Cordillera and Muslim Mindanao, thus, the inclusion of the provision to establish autonomous regions in the two remote places in the country.

Domogan said Cordillerans must not waste the time given to the region to acquire autonomous status by cooperating in the ongoing massive consultations in the provinces so that they will be able to contribute their bright ideas which will help in the crafting of a third Organic Act that will be subjected to ratification by the people.

He explained that the attainment of an autonomous region will not diminish the benefits, powers and gains of the local governments comprising the region but will instead add up to the same with the provision of more funds for increased number of projects beneficial to the people in the far-flung communities.

Apart from adding up to the powers of the local and regional governments, he emphasized achieving autonomy will be a good vehicle for the region to be at par with the development of other regions provided the impending devolution must not only go with the powers but also the required resources so that the regional government will be appropriately administered.

After crafting a working document for the region’s autonomous status, the RDC will consult with sectors so congressmen will file the appropriate bill in Congress which will in turn be submitted to the people for approval in the future.