BAGUIO CITY – Cordillera Indigenous peoples
mandatory representatives (IPMRs) recently urged President Rodrigo Duterte to
certify as urgent pending bills in Congress seeking to make the Cordillera
autonomous.
This, after the Cordillera regional offices of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples partnered with National Economic Development Authority to update IPMRs in the region on pursuit of Cordillera autonomy.
Led by the Regional Development Council. NCIP and NEDA conducted face-to-face and virtual meetings with IPMRs Dec. 1 to 16.
Over 80 participants joined and signified commitment to sustain support in the advocacy.
They urged the President in a resolution to certify the autonomy bills as pushed by Cordillera congressmen, local government units, and private sector representatives.
A mock plebiscite was also conducted where 89.7% voted in favor of establishing the Autonomous Cordillera Region, 2.3% voted no, while 8% remain undecided.
A common sentiment that surfaced was that community elders’ opposition to the previous two attempts was because the bill was not explained to them properly.
Others who were in favor in 1990 and 1998 also expressed that they faced strong opposition from doubters who did not understand the benefits that an autonomous governance can provide the region.
As part of their commitment, IPMRs will work with NEDA-
CAR through the SPCAR program to increase awareness and support of Cordillera autonomy in their local communities.
NCIP Commissioner for Region 1 and CAR, Gaspar Cayat, called for the involvement of the IPMRs.
He said community elders are the best way to reach the grassroots and amplify support for autonomy.
Currently, there are three bills filed in Congress establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera, Senate Bill 1232 filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Bill 5687 filed by all CAR Congressmen, and House Bill 7778 filed by Benguet Caretaker Congressman Eric Yap. With increasing support for Cordillera autonomy legislation, having a pool of advocates ready for information dissemination is crucial for attaining the ‘yes’ vote during the plebiscite. – With a NEDA report
This, after the Cordillera regional offices of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples partnered with National Economic Development Authority to update IPMRs in the region on pursuit of Cordillera autonomy.
Led by the Regional Development Council. NCIP and NEDA conducted face-to-face and virtual meetings with IPMRs Dec. 1 to 16.
Over 80 participants joined and signified commitment to sustain support in the advocacy.
They urged the President in a resolution to certify the autonomy bills as pushed by Cordillera congressmen, local government units, and private sector representatives.
A mock plebiscite was also conducted where 89.7% voted in favor of establishing the Autonomous Cordillera Region, 2.3% voted no, while 8% remain undecided.
A common sentiment that surfaced was that community elders’ opposition to the previous two attempts was because the bill was not explained to them properly.
Others who were in favor in 1990 and 1998 also expressed that they faced strong opposition from doubters who did not understand the benefits that an autonomous governance can provide the region.
As part of their commitment, IPMRs will work with NEDA-
CAR through the SPCAR program to increase awareness and support of Cordillera autonomy in their local communities.
NCIP Commissioner for Region 1 and CAR, Gaspar Cayat, called for the involvement of the IPMRs.
He said community elders are the best way to reach the grassroots and amplify support for autonomy.
Currently, there are three bills filed in Congress establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera, Senate Bill 1232 filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Bill 5687 filed by all CAR Congressmen, and House Bill 7778 filed by Benguet Caretaker Congressman Eric Yap. With increasing support for Cordillera autonomy legislation, having a pool of advocates ready for information dissemination is crucial for attaining the ‘yes’ vote during the plebiscite. – With a NEDA report
No comments:
Post a Comment