Solon cites benefits of autonomy consultations

PUDTOL, Apayao – The grassroots consultations on the proposed draft of the third autonomy law is a giant step towards realizing the mandate of the Philippine Constitution in establishing an autonomous region in the Cordillera, Rep. Eleonore Bulut-Begtang said.

Speaking recently before members of the provincial development council composed of municipal mayors of the seven towns and provincial department and agency heads, the lady solon cited efforts of the Regional Development Council in crafting the working draft now being subjected to consultations.

She cited need for everyone to actively participate in gatherings organized for the purpose of discussing autonomy so that their inputs will be considered in the crafting of the bill to be filed in Congress in the future.

According to Begtang, the proposed autonomy law must ensure that previous issues that resulted to the rejection of the two Organic Acts which were presented to the Cordillerans, particularly the failure of the laws to encompass the concerns of the people in the region, must be effectively addressed by the third autonomy law so that the people will willingly accept the same.

She said the third autonomy law must also ensure the proper utilization of the region’s resources coupled with the meaningful allocation of funds no matter how meager they are so that the resources of government will be utilized for the development of the region.

The lawmaker, daughter of former Rep. and Gov. Elias K. Bulut, Sr. and sister of incumbent Gov. Elias Bulut, Jr., cited need for more consultations so that the people, especially those in far flung communities, will understand self-governance for them not to be misled by critics of the renewed quest for regional autonomy.

When the first autonomy law was submitted to the Cordillerans for ratification during a plebiscite on January 30, 1990, only Ifugao province voted in favor of being autonomous while only Apayao province voted in favor of the second autonomy law which was presented to the people for ratification on March 7, 1998.

She said what is important is the regional government will have greater control of the region’s resources coupled with the fact that the local governments will be able to directly receive their share from the national wealth taxes paid by multinational companies operating in their respective places so that there will be substantial amount that could be used for locally funded development projects instead of solely relying on their share from the national government that takes years to be released. -- Dexter A. See