RDC gets inputs for new Cordillera autonomy law

By Marlo Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY –  The drafting committee for the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera Organic Law met in a three-day workshop from May 22 to 24 to consolidate inputs gathered from concerned groups, agencies, organizations, and individuals and suggest revisions to House Bill 5343, an act establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.

The Regional Development Council will recommend the outputs as proposed amendments to House Bill 5343 to Cordillera Administrative Region congressional representatives who are expected to file the new bill in the coming months.
The workshop consisted of an expanded network of experts and Cordillera autonomy advocates.

Resource persons were invited from sectors and organizations to share their expertise and knowledge on specific topics and selected provisions of the draft.

These included civil society organizations, law firms, public and private universities.

Research institutions were also asked to express their views on the proposed Cordillera Organic Act.
Outgoing Baguio City mayor and RDC chairman Mauricio Domogan, lawyer Jose Molintas, and Baguio City Rep. Mark Go all shared their insights in drafting the proposed Cordillera Autonomy law for the 18th Congress.

Go also committed to gather all incoming Cordillera representatives to discuss their strategy for the proposed law to facilitate its passing in the 18th Congress.

Also in attendance and providing insights were Bayanihan Federal Constitution Commissioner Virgilio Bautista and former National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Commissioner Zenaida Pawid.
Dr. Jedidia Aquino said diverse membership of the committee will ensure multi-sectoral perspectives of the bill inputs.

The RDC through National Economic Development Authority -CAR assembled the committee to review and improve House Bill based on previous versions of the Cordillera autonomy law and recent suggestions from various consultations, fora and assemblies such as the Cordillera Indigenous’ Peoples Legislative Assembly (IPLA) initiated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and NCIP- Cordillera.

 The RDC plans to turn over suggested inputs by July this year to incoming CAR congressional representatives.