Baguilat to pursue regional autonomy

By Aiza Liza P. Namingit

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Reelected Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat will pursue in  Congress to attain Cordillera autonomy as mandated under the 1987 Constitution. 

“Granting autonomy to the Cordillera is one constitutional provision that has not been fulfilled. So instead of talking about changes to the constitution, perhaps we should first seek to fulfill the mandates of the constitution such as Cordillera autonomy,” said Baguilat.

In the 15th Congress, which will end its sessions in June, the five Cordillera Administrative Region AR Representatives – Eleanor Begtang of Apayao, Bernardo Vergara of Baguio City, Baguilat, Manuel Agyao of Kalinga and Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province – filed House Bill 5595 that sought  to create a Cordillera Autonomous Region.

The bill, however, did not progress due to questions on how exactly the autonomous region will work, considering there remain issues on the autonomy granted to Muslim Mindanao.

Also, the lack of grassroots consultation was considered a hindrance to the Bill’s congress as many Cordillerans remain undecided or indifferent to the proposed Organic Act.

“We don’t want to force the issue when the people have not fully understood why autonomy is our right and what the benefits are for the Region”, Baguilat said.

He added, however, that he would push ahead with filing another bill on Cordillera autonomy in the next congress as the Cordillerans are more than ready for self- rule, in deference to their long history of struggle for self-determination and unique customs and traditions.

The Regional Development Council of the Cordillera Administrative Region has been working on the proposed third Cordillera Autonomy Organic Act and Baguilat said that he would take the inputs under serious consideration when the bill is refilled in the next congress.#