Cordi deserves autonomy, says local gov’t code father

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera deserves to be granted autonomous status which is not only an expressed provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution but an empowerment for indigenous peoples to have more devolved powers and greater control of the resources within its area of jurisdiction, former Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. said here last week.

Like in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao where Moro leaders are the ones running the affairs of the regional government, Pimentel’ main authr of the local government code said it is high time the Cordillera also avail of the constitutional provision mandating the creation of an autonomous region in the Cordillera and see for themselves the bigger effect of self-governance to the development of the whole region and the attainment of lasting peace.

According to him, the attainment of autonomous status will be a prelude to the further devolution of powers that will be requisites towards becoming a federal state which is one of his major advocacies when he was in the Senate.

Pimentel said Cordillerans and Muslims are the most privileged Filipinos because it has been provided in the Constitution that they should be accorded autonomous status to allow them to have greater powers to administer their affairs and will have greater control of their rich natural resources in order to boost development in their respective territorial jurisdictions.

While there divided opinions in the region on whether or not to pursue autonomous status despite enjoying greater powers in the present administrative state of the region, Pimentel explained Cordillerans must strive for more powers by fighting for autonomous status since by having more regional powers, the development of the region will be in a faster pace with more budgetary support from the national government.

The former lawmaker cited the reason why he supported the opposition to the postponement of the ARMM elections is that he does not want appointed leaders who are not the choice of the people to handle the over P11 billion annual budget of the region in the next three years.

Pimentel argued leaders who are not the ones chosen by the people will not enjoy the trust and confidence of the electorate which could eventually worsen the peace and order situation in the region as well as create more problems that come out with better solutions, thus, it will be impractical for President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino to be appointing ARMM officials just to suit the interest of some quarters.

He agreed to the contention of Cordillera autonomy advocates that the attainment of self-governance will translate to increased powers to have greater control of the region’s resources with lesser restraint from outside forces that will be able to help move the people out of the shackles of poverty, citing that the implementation of more development projects under the control of the regional government will be better than contesting with other big regions in the allocation of funds for projects under a fair playing field.

Pimentel hailed the efforts of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera in their continuous efforts to craft a third Organic Act for the Cordillera through continuous consultations, saying that it will be better for the RDC-CAR to get the sentiments of the people in the crafting of the autonomy law.