Du3o certifies Cordi autonomy bill urgent

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – President Rodrigo R. Duterte has certified House Bill 5343, the bill seeking establishment of an autonomous region in the Cordillera  as urgent along with the proposed enhanced Bangsamoro autonomous region bill for action by the 17th Congress.  

Speaking before more than 120 Cordillera leaders who attended the meeting with him Tuesday night at the Malacanang, the President recognized the need to devolve more powers of the national government to local government units, including the autonomous regions to be established, greater control of resources by host communities, and implementation of more development projects in the countryside to ensure people will reap fruits of development.

However, he said control and supervision of one armed forces and the police will remain with the national government to avoid serious repercussions to security of the archipelago from internal and external forces.

Duterte assured Cordillera leaders he will allocate two slots for the region in the composition of the consultative commission he will be creating for charter change that will pave the way for the shift from the existing unitary form to a federal form.

The meeting of Cordillera leaders with the President was worked out by officials and members of the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera through Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza that the Cordillera autonomy bill be included in matters to be certified by the President as urgent. 

Present during the meeting with the President were Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, Benguet Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan, Abra Rep. Joseph Bernos, and Kalinga Rep. and Mountain Province Legislative Caretaker Allen Jesse Mangaoang, Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso, Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., Ifugao Gov. Pedro Mayam-o, Kalinga Acting Gov. James Edubba, Baguio City Mayor and RDC-CAR chairman Mauricio G. Domogan, Tabuk City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban, Abra Vice Governor and Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) Chairman Ronald Balao-as, Apayao Vice Gov. Remy Albano, Benguet Vice Gov. Florence Tingbaoen, Mountain Province Vice Gov. Francis Tauli, Ifugao Vice Gov. Jordan Gollitiw and Kalinga Acting Vice Gov. Shirlynne D. Alunday, most municipal mayors and representatives from civil society groups and the CPLA.

Domogan presented issues and concerns needing intervention of the President  citing need for certification of HB 5343 as urgent administration measure.

He expressed collective gratitude of the Cordillera leaders for giving them time to meet with him and assure him that Cordillera leaders are now unified for the region’s renewed quest for autonomy.