Baguio b’gay execs open to autonomy

By Marlo T. Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY – Over 300 barangay officials from districts 1 to 10 here gathered Oct. 29 at Teachers’ Camp for a whole-day forum on key features of Cordillera autonomy and salient features of the proposed Cordillera Organic Act and House Bill 5343 or “An Act Establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera”.

The event was co-organized by the Baguio City government and National Economic Development Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region.

Baguio City Mayor and Regional Development Council chairman Mauricio Domogan addressed the officials and inspired them to work towards Cordillera autonomy as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

The mayor added that the current administration’s move towards federalism is aligned with Cordillera autonomy. He noted that Cordillera autonomy towards federalism is the best strategy to ensure that Cordillera will maintain their unique and rich regional identity.

Autonomy advocates barangay captain Ignacio Gallente, Briccio Domondon, and lawyer Tomas Kiwang, expanded the mayor’s discussion and presented key points of Cordillera autonomy.  Kiwang, who worked on drafting the proposed organic act, said that the work on the advocacy should be intensified to reach more Cordillerans especially those at the grassroots.

Later, officials signed a statement of support to urge the administration to certify the proposed Cordillera Organic act as an urgent bill.

Baguio City voted against autonomy in the past two plebiscites to ratify the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.

Failure of the plebiscites in 1990 and 1998 was attributed to lack of a proper information dissemination and rampant misinformation campaign not just in Baguio but throughout the region.

The RDC adopted Cordillera autonomy as theme of the regional development plan.

The RDC-CAR, through its secretariat, NEDA-CAR is continuing to inform the public on renewed pursuit for autonomy that is focused on providing sustainable development for the region.