Cordillera autonomy bid not a lost cause says Palace aide

By Dexter A. See

BONTOC, Mountain Province – A senior Palace official here said the third attempt of the Cordillera to attain autonomous status is not a lost cause considering support shown by sectors on self-governance.

Cesar Tulyao, head of the Northern Luzon cluster of the Presidential Management Staff, who graced the second quarter meeting of the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera here, said it is not fair to compare the Cordillera to the current state of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao because of the two contrasting cultures of the said regions.

According to him, self-rule will be an avenue to chart the own direction of the Cordillera without significant interventions from the national government because Cordillerans will be allowed to practice what they believe is appropriate to develop the region into a well oiled machinery capable of uplifting the living condition of the people and moving them out from the shackles of poverty.

In 2006, the RDC made autonomy an agenda to hasten development of rural communities while allowing the region to have greater control of its resources in order to bring progress to the grassroots level.

Tulyao urged Cordillerans to grab the opportunity given to them by the Constitution to achieve an autonomous status and utilize the same as an effective and efficient tool towards development and improving the lives of the people in the remote communities.

The RDC is currently awaiting the final draft of the proposed autonomy law being crafted by the Third autonomy Drafting Committee (TADC) chaired by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan prior to the conduct of consultations with Cordillera congressmen and other interested lawmakers who are willing to sponsor the filing of the proposed bill in Congress.

Tulyao told Cordillerans the freedom to be autonomous is a privilege granted to them by the Philippine Constitution, thus, they must take it seriously, grab the rare opportunity and use it to the region’s advantage for the benefit of the present and future generation of Cordillerans who want to live in a developed society.

Considering that the Palace made an earlier statement that the ARMM experience is a failed experience in terms of achieving autonomous status, the PMS official cited the Cordillera should be differently treated because of their contrasting cultures coupled with the peaceful scenario in the region compared to the ARMM.

Section 15-21 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the establishment of an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera in recognition of the national government’s negligence to our the necessary support to chart the region’s development which is supposed to be at par with the development of other regions in the country.