Cordillera leaders push autonomy to federalism

By Dexter A. See 

BAUKO, Mountain Province – Close to 200 local officials, civil society organization and tribal leaders from the Cordillera signed the Mount Data declaration of support for the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera towards realization of planned shift from presidential to federal form of government by the Duterte administration.

The signing was done by Cordillera officials and tribal leaders after a forum entitled “Pioneer Autonomy Advocates, Getting Together” headed by Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process and the Cordillera Regional Development Council at Mount Data hotel here Monday.

“We, Cordillerans recognize our differences but we remain united by our shared goal to achieve regional autonomy in order to establish our permanent Cordillera identity, to accelerate the region’s socio-economic development and to have responsive policies for the Cordillera within the context of our common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic structures and other relevant characteristics do declare our commitment to support the establishment of an autonomous region of the Cordillera towards federalism,” the declaration stated.

The Cordillera leaders, tribal elders and civil society heads declared their commitment by collectively urging President Rodrigo R. Duterte to certify as priority and urgent House Bill No. 5343 which is an Act establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera; exert all necessary efforts available to ensure that HB 5343 will be enacted into law without substantial change; support the establishment of regional autonomy in the Cordillera while awaiting the establishment of a federal system of government, and pushing as separate federal state by itself once a federal form of government is operationalized; adopting the 2017-2019 road map for achieving autonomy towards federalism as our guide in pursuing autonomy in the region.

The leaders also committed to continue capacitating themselves on the current discourse on federalism vis-à-vis autonomy to become effective advocates; conduct consistent information, education and communication activities to increase awareness and support among our fellow Cordillerans and constituents; active in engaging in programs, projects and activities of the RDC-CAR in forwarding autonomy at various levels; pursue a process of healing, reconciliation and building back cohesive relationships to advance the advocacy for the attainment of regional autonomy and support the initiatives of the OPAPP that facilitate the region’s autonomy advocacy together with Muslim Mindanao.

Key personalities who were present during the forum were Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, RDC-CAR chairman and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., Mountain Province Vice Governor Francis Tauli, Kalinga Gov. Jocel C. Baac, Kalinga Vice Gov. James Edubba, all provincial and municipal officials of Mountain Province and leaders and members of the fragmented Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army and representatives from civil society organizations.