Cordillera Reps press regional autonomy; amendments pushed

By Marlo Lubguban

QUEZON CITY - Cordilleran representatives to the 18th Congress pushed fulfillment of the Constitutional mandate for achieving Cordillera autonomy during the 2019 Regional Development Council (RDC) Advisory Committee meeting on August 14.

The joint Regional Development and Peace and Order Councils earlier endorsed amendments crafted by the organic law drafting committee during the joint RDC-RPOC meeting in Baguio on August 8.

The proposed draft was presented by committee chair Philip Tingonong of Abra.

In Quezon City, DOH-CAR Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan set the tone for the meeting with her prayer saying that all the efforts of the Cordillera are towards the dream of autonomy.

Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang echoed her sentiments and agreed that regional autonomy is the purpose and end-goal of the Cordillera Administrative Region. “Cordillera autonomy is the bottom line”, he said.
The Cordillera autonomy draft organic law was not part of the meeting agenda as recommended by Reps. Mark Go of Baguio City and Joseph Bernos of Abra during the August 8 RDC-RPOC meeting.

They urged a separate meeting within September.

However, the pursuit of regional autonomy was briefly discussed during the August 14 meeting.

Rep. Elias Bulut, Jr. of Apayao, urged that the CAR congressmen should meet to determine what kind of bill the Cordilleran legislators want to file.

Bulut also expressed the desire of the Cordillera congressmen to be members of the RDC to promote harmonious coordination.

Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao said he wanted to ensure all  congressmen know the bill that will be filed as they are the ones who will defend it in Congress.
Go earlier said in the August 8 meeting of the RDC that he wants to ensure that the bill to be filed in the 18th Congress is representative of the consultations with Cordillerans.

Bernos said his concern was addressing the Cordillera autonomy advocacy and the approach and consultation among indigenous and non-indigenous Cordillerans, particularly in Abra.

“At the end of the day, we [Congressmen] will be the ones who will file the bill, we will be your number one lobbyists in Malacañang or wherever, all seven of us”, he added.
Rep. Maximo Dalog, Jr. of Mountain Province said he looked forward to better coordination among the CAR legislators and the RDC towards the filing of the draft Cordillera Organic Law.
The RDC advisory committee is composed of all seven CAR congressmen and sectoral committee chairpersons, the RDC Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. 

A separate meeting among the CAR Congressmen is expected to be held in September to determine the content of the bill to be filed in Congress.
In Baguio during the joint Regional Development and Peace and Order Councils,  amendments crafted by the organic law drafting committee on August 8 was  was presented by committee chair Philip Tingonong of Abra.

The proposed draft will serve as suggestions to the bill expected to be filed by the Cordillera representatives in the 18th Congress.
The bill is largely based on the previous House Bill 5343 filed in the 17th Congress as it has undergone broad consultations in 2018. The drafting committee also used the extensive history of past autonomy laws and bills, the Local Government Code, and the inputs and recommendations of various stakeholders such as the Cordillera Indigenous Peoples' Assembly (CIPLA) on House Bill 5343. Emphasis was put on clarifying the rights of Cordillerans and differentiation between indigenous and non-indigenous Cordillerans.
There were contentious amendments raised during the meeting.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong raised concern on the proposed review of local ordinances and policies by the Regional Assembly in the draft.

 Reps. Go and Bernos agreed to gather Cordilleran legislators to discuss the RDC suggestions and come up with a bill that will address such concerns.

"Let's have a separate meeting to really discuss the bill and create a draft that is acceptable to the people", Baguio Congressman Mark Go said. This meeting is expected to be held in September 2019.
Magalong and other regional officials present during the RDC-RPOC meeting were all Cordillera governors, Rep. Chungalao and heads of the region’s line agencies.
The RDC roadmap for achieving Cordillera autonomy aims to have the Cordillera Organic Law passed by 2020.