PCL backs quest for Cordillera autonomy

BAGUIO CITY –Government and private sectors are now coming out in support of autonomy for the Cordillera to speed up progress and development, especially in rural communities.

            

The latest group now openly supporting autonomy is the regional chapter of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) which passed a resolution supporting the immediate passage of House Bill (HB) 5595 and Senate Bill (SB) 3115, both bills seeking to establish a Cordillera Autonomous Region.

            

Emilio Kitongan, PCL-CAR regional chapter chairman, said municipal chapters of the organization will likewise pass their respective resolutions in support of the region’s third attempt for self-governance so that the national government will be convinced to fully support the clamor of Cordillerans for self-rule.

            

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan reminded the local legislators that it is their individual and collective role to help in the information and education campaign in the grassroots level by initiating small group discussions on the benefits of self-governance so that people will be able to internalize the essence of the clamor for autonomous status.

            

He urged councilors to draft amendments they want to put in to strengthen the autonomy bill and submit their proposals to the third Autonomy Act Drafting Committee (TAADC) or their respective congressmen for inclusion in the period of amendments once the pending bills will be submitted for plenary debates.

            

On the possible inclusion of a PCL representative to the regional assembly similar to the clamor of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the SangguniangKabataan Federations (AKFs), Domogan advised the PCL-CAR to make a position paper relative thereto so that it will be included as part of the proposed amendments to the pending bills pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Code of the Philippines mandating representations for barangays, youth and councilors in the local legislative bodies.

            

Once the national leadership will be able to see that Cordillerans are united on the renewed quest for regional autonomy, Domogan explained national officials will be constrained to support the snowballing clamor for autonomy.

            

However, the city mayor argued that once the national government will seek a crack on the unity and teamwork of local officials in pushing for autonomy, they will be happy and will take advantage of the situation by not supporting the immediate passage of the third Organic Act considering that Cordillera officials are not united in clamoring for autonomy.

            

He cited being local officials, they must internalize the contents of the two bills and be able to impart to their constituents the real benefits of autonomy since the region’s holistic development will be strengthened once people of the region re given a chance to manage their existing resources with lesser restraint from outside forces.