Rep Go airs support
BAGUIO
CITY – The Cordillera Regional Development and Peace and Order councils in a
recent meeting honored their outgoing members as they prepared for
reorganization of the two top regional bodies to push regional autonomy.
In recognition of their contributions to Cordillera
development, outgoing RDC chairman, former Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan,
and sectoral committee chairs and co-chairs were presented with tokens of
appreciation during the joint meeting.
Major accomplishments of the 2016-2019 Council included
setting the region’s development direction through the Regional Development
Plan 2017-2022, advancement of the region’s coffee industry through the Coffee
Development Plan, identification of poverty-stricken areas in the region
through the Social Convergence Program, fast-tracking of the Minahang Bayan
process and improvement of trade and connectivity by supporting the Tourism
Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) and Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry
and Trade (ROLL IT) convergence projects.
A press release from the regional National Economic
Development Authority bared this saying the RDC-CAR also pursued Cordillera
autonomy in accordance with Section 15 Article X of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution.
Through the Social Preparation of CAR into an Autonomous
Region (SPCAR) program, the RDC continues to raise awareness, gain support, and
capacitate Cordillerans for Cordillera autonomy, the press release said.
Under the leadership of Domogan, the RDC reportedly engaged
the Office of the President and both Houses of the 16th and 17th Congress for
support to Cordillera’s pursuit of regional autonomy.
With the support of local government units, regional line
agencies and its private sector representatives, the RDC reportedly engaged
Cordillerans down to the grassroots sector to support regional autonomy.
The RDC is the highest policy-making body in the region. It
coordinates and sets the direction for social and economic development in the
region.
It also leads in the renewed pursuit of Cordillera autonomy
which aims to enhance Cordilleran identity, formulate responsive policies, and
attain progress for all Cordillerans.
As secretariat of the RDC and home of the SPCAR Program,
NEDA-CAR reportedly aims to continue coordinating with government, public and
private groups to push regional autonomy.
The RDC is set to meet new members from the newly-elected
local chief executives and private sector representatives on August 8.
The RDC’s reorganization coincides with the 3-year terms of
the local chief executives and the RDC private sector representatives.
This, as Imelda Sedano, chief of staff of Baguio City Rep.
Mark Go, said the latter bared his commitment to pursue Cordillera regional
autonomy during the 32nd anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region
celebration at the Baguio City Hall on July 13.
Cordillera regional autonomy has been a long struggle of
the region. Overtaken by the 2019 elections and the federalism movement, the
most recent draft autonomy bill, HB 5343 commissioned by the RDC and filed
during the 17th congress, failed to pass the second reading.
As the 18th Congress commenced, Sedano cited Go’s support
to push autonomy advocacy.
Sedano cited their participation in the Indigenous Peoples’
Legislative Assembly in Baguio last December 2018 where Cordillera Indigenous
Peoples’ (IP) leaders and representatives crafted their own recommendations for
the autonomy bill then-pending in the 17th Congress.
She cited Go’s observation on the pursuit of regional
autonomy, recognizing that the lack of information and unity which caused the
failed ratification of the two plebiscites in 1990 and 1998 is no longer true
today. – With a report from Zhaira Kate L. Chinayo, NEDA- SPCAR
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