M E S S A G E

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

M E S S A G E

Time flies so fast that ever since the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region in 1986 under the Corazon Aquino administration, it has reached its 28^th anniversary with this year’s theme “Conserving the environment towards a greener Cordillera.”

This is apt as our regional and local government officials are quietly doing their programs in keeping a clean and green environment through their own initiatives, in line with the National Greening Program of this administration.

This, in fact, should be a goal not only for every environmentally-concerned citizen but for all public officials who are required by their oaths of office to protect the interests of the general public.

It is along this line that with this administration’s thrust to have all national and barangay roads concreted, of which the P2 billion allocation for Benguet may increase next year along with allotments for all Cordillera provinces, Yours Truly has deemed it proper to morally and financially contribute to efforts of the environment department in protecting critical national parks in Benguet that have to be delineated from intruders and illegal activities.These initiatives lead to alleviating living conditions in my district most especially farmers and small traders.

As Cordillera Month is observed and constituents ponder the region’s future, the Philippine Constitution’s provision for creation of a Cordillera Autonomous Region may  yet become a reality even as the Bangsamoro Law is being pushed in Mindanao to give Muslims more leeway as compared to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

On this occasion, it is worth observing how the BBL is crafted so its flaws and constitutionality could be noted in crafting a third Organic Act for the Cordillera which would be proposed to the people in a plebiscite.  House Bill 4649 or An Act Creating the Cordillera Autonomous Region is pending in Congress, the latest in moves to make the region attain more leeway in governance.

Under EO 220 which created the CA, the transitory bodies – Cordillera Executive Board, Cordillera Regional Assembly and Cordillera Bodong Administration were tasked to prepare the region for autonomy but these bodies ceased their functions after Congress gave them a ten peso budget owing to inefficiency.

The Regional Development Council is now heading information drives on autonomy, but then such initiatives should reach the grassroots or far-flung areas to also get their sentiments on the matter. If people are divided on autonomy, there has to be some common factors which they could agree on. There has to be unity in diversity among the peoples of the Cordillera.

As Cordillera Month is observed, these are thoughts which could be taken into account by concerned pro and anti-autonomy groups and individuals as the region ponders its future.

From Benguet, Congratulations to our fellow Cordillerans. God Bless!

RONALD M. COSALAN

Congressman

Province of Benguet