House committee okay’s Cordillera autonomy bill

Mindanao solons air support 

By Erlindo Agwilang and PNA

QUEZON CITY -- The committee on local government of the House of Representatives has calendared for deliberations and approved in principle a Lower House measure seeking to establish an autonomous region for the Cordillera Administrative Region.

House Bill 5343, “An Act Establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera,” has been pending before the committee since it was filed on March 20, 2017.

It was authored by all Cordillera congressional representatives: Allen Jesse Mangaoang of Kalinga, Ronald Cosalan, Benguet; Mark Go, Baguio City; Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Apayao; Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Ifugao; Joseph Bernos, Abra and the late Maximo B. Dalog of Mountain Province.

During the committee hearing held August 14, several district representatives from Mindanao expressed commitment in ensuring the measure will be passed during the current Congress.

Rep. Manuel Zubiri of the 3rd District of Bukidnon said the cause for autonomy for the Cordillera should now come next since the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) has already been signed into law.

Addressing Cordillera lawmakers, he said: “It’s time we also support you, our brothers in the Cordillera, as you did to us, especially in the passage of our BOL.”Rep. Zubiri is a younger brother of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, the author of the counterpart autonomy bill in the Senate.

Also present to express support was Rep. Mohamad Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte who was instrumental in moving for the bill’s approval and the immediate creation of a technical working group to address relevant issues at hand and consolidate the necessary requirements needed to fast-track its process. “The autonomous region for our brothers in the Cordillera region is long overdue, therefore we need to spur this opportunity to pass this bill,” he said.

Other congressmen from the South who supported the House measure were: Rep. Wilter Palma of Zambaoanga Sibugay, Rep. Ron Salo of Party-list Kabayan, Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato and Rep. Pablo Ortega of La Union. 

In response to support from the Mindanao lawmakers, Mayor Mauricio Domogan commended members of the committee, saying as far as the requirements are concerned, public consultations have already been conducted in the provinces of CAR including the submission of resolutions from the different local government units and various manifesto of support coming from the different barangays.

“I urge you, our congressmen in the Philippines, to be part of history by passing this proposed bill,” he added.

Domogan also submitted to Congress the proposed amendments to HB 5343 which he said, do not have any substantial or contentious issues as far as the proposed bill is concerned as said amendments were derived from the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Also in attendance in said committee hearing were Cordillera regional directors Milagros Rimando of National Economic Development Authority, Ralph Pablo of Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Social Welfare’s Janet Armas,  Nancy Bantog of Science and Technology, Roland Calde of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Also in attendance were assistant regional director Amelita Pangilinan of Dept. of Health, Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan of Mountain Province, Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. of Apayao, former Sagada Mayor Tom Killip of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, former La Trinidad Mayor Edna Tabanda, former Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan, lawyer Delmar Carino including other Cordillera leaders and advocates for autonomy.

Mean while, Cordillera leaders got the assurance of support from more senators and Palace officials in their regional autonomy bid.

 In a forum conducted in Manila on Friday, Sen. Aquilino "Coco" Pimentel vowed to author a bill that would make Cordillera an autonomous region. He authored the same bill in 2015 but was overtaken by events.

 Pimentel would be the fourth senator to file such bill at the Senate, after Senator Miguel Zubiri who filed Senate Bill 1678, Senator JV Ejercito with SB 1923, and another bill by Senator Bam Aquino.

 He also urged the Cordillera leaders to prepare the support mechanism on the ground, for the people’s vote during the plebiscite.

 Pimentel added the timing is right with President Rodrigue Duterte, a staunch believer of autonomy, at the helm.

Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, in a video message sent to the RDC and played during the event, also gave his support for a Cordillera autonomous status.

“We support the Cordillera autonomy, which is in our Constitution," he said.

Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government, said his wife is also from Baguio.

 Senator Ejercito, an adapted son of Kalinga and Mountain Province, said: “You have my full support for the preservation of our culture, heritage, and identify. I am one with you because I am a Cordilleran myself.”

Zubiri, the first senator to champion Cordillera’s clamor in the Upper Chamber, filed the first Senate version on Feb. 1, 2018. His version is an identical copy of House Bill (HB) 5343, “An act establishing the autonomous region of the Cordillera”, which was co-authored by all six congressmen of the region.

Presidential Adviser for North Luzon Raul Lambino, an Ilocano who earned his degree in Baguio City, was also at the Saturday meeting with Cordillera leaders and senators in Manila.

 "One of the most important tasks I have is to achieve the most cherished dream of the Cordillera,” he said.

 Lambino suggested to tap Ilocano speakers in the Cabinet to help the cause of the highlanders.

 Autonomy advocate,  Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, who requested Zubiri to champion the Cordillera autonomy at the Senate early this year, was also at the meeting.

Dureza said Cordillera should have been the first to get the autonomy because it stayed on its commitment for peace after the Mount Data Peace accord with the government in 1986.

Dureza urged the Cordillerans to continue working together, to be united towards the goal for autonomy, and to make a noise to get attention for their cause.

Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Adelino Sitoy, who did a comparison of the bills filed together with the draft Constitution submitted by the Consultative Commission (ConCom), said whichever comes first, the Cordillera’s clamor for autonomy is provided for under the 1987 Constitution and the proposed Constitution.