LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Regionalize Cordillera and stop begging
MARCH L. FIANZA

I beg to disagree with the proposition by our esteemed Cordillera officials that a third shot on regional autonomy will alleviate the region. This appeared in the editorial of the Northern Philippine Times. In the same editorial it quoted Sagada boy Tom Killip, Presidential Assistant for Cordillera Affairs who said: they will try to raise funds through the first-ever donors’ forum to be held in Manila.

These two separate ideas were motivated by a report by the Regional Development Council (RDC) that various Cordillera LGUs need at least P33.9 million to fund small poverty alleviation projects that would “spur economic development” in their areas of jurisdiction.

This writer however, acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of our RDC officials. Indeed they are performing a mandated job to improve life in these boondocks. There is no argument with that, but the manner by which we do that is not exactly acceptable. There is something wrong when we say that the Cordillera can not always depend on the government’s program on poverty alleviation – and then shift to a so-called strategy of accessing funding from foreign donors.

To me, both efforts appear as “beggar strategies.” As a rich region with natural assets to boast of, we can not continue to be beggars. Not through autonomy which can come later, and not through any donors’ forum. It is quite difficult for many people to understand why our public officials, especially the unelected ones, endorse multi-billion government and private projects such as dams and mines, and then wind up begging in the end. It is also wrong to put the Cordillera region on the same level with Muslim Mindanao in terms of getting our share from national government support.

While the two regions are indigenous areas, both behave differently and have diverse cultures. The lands bought by Luzonians and Visayans in any part of Mindanao have been plowed and continue to be improved. Muslim lands today remain idle. Believe. For almost two decades now, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) existed as a politically autonomous region. The national government allotted additional funding thru the general appropriations act on top of its income derived directly from its own resources.

Still today, despite the huge fund support, the region does not look alleviated – not in terms of its economy, politics and the ever-increasing number of people killed by the war. Is it now safe to say that autonomy as claimed by their leaders has resolved any of the region’s woes?

In fact, I see that our Muslim brothers are more “autonomous” along Session Road. Ask anyone of them, they will tell you a true story. In terms of contributions to national wealth, the Cordillera is ahead in the line as the gold mines and biggest hydro-electric dams have shown. Tax contributions do not stop as long as these companies continue to exist, especially now that they have been privatized.

Other regions do not contribute as much as Mindanao and the Cordillera do, but they are able to survive and provide for their people. While countries such as the Philippines need to alleviate the plight of their people, they must not resort to begging. I am quite sure that with the help of economists and political analysts in the academic sector in the region; Cordillera may be able to focus on better means to provide for its people – but not to beg.

By the way, the academic team can study and suggest to government the use of intelligence funds by the police, AFP and the office of the National Security Adviser. Sometimes, my mind wanders and suspects that these agencies keep repeating statements about the existence of terrorists and destabilizers just to keep the funds flowing. Gambling funds, casino funds, Pagcor funds or whatchamacallit are also misused.

What do the LGUs get from it? Ambulance vans that merely become the private cars of the yayas of politicians who solicit them. It also ends up as tourist cars for the politician’s family, who go to Tagaytay. The same are used to come up to Sagada or Baguio so the politician’s chef can fill it up with a month’s supply of highland salad vegees. The funds can be put to proper use. Poverty alleviation becomes elusive if the manner by which to address it is wrong at the outset.

Truth is it has turned out to be more of a political tool by tradpols who see to it that their vested interests are served while the program is being implemented. Or do we have an attitude problem or culture problem when it comes to delivering project funds for impoverished communities? It is enough that in the past, we Igorot Cordillerans were the subject of ridicule by our lowland brothers who thought of us as street beggars.

Instead, our esteemed officials may sponsor a study on how the other Cordillera provinces can open up their resources like Benguet, and share in regional stability. Eventually, we can become a regular region and stand up on our own feet. Maybe become an autonomous region, maybe a federal regional government or whatever – but please, Juan does not have to beg. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com