Bill filed to make Sierra Madre governing body

By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino

A BILL that seeks the creation of the Sierra Madre Development Authority has been filed in the 19th Congress of the House of Representatives.
    The measure, House Bill 1972, was filed by Rizal Fourth District Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles.
    “It (bill) will strengthen not only the protection that Sierra Madre deserves but a holistic approach to enhance development of indigenous resources in the Sierra Madre region to its fullest potential for economic development to raise the standard of living of our people," the bill's explanatory note read.
    If the bill is passed into law, the Authority will be created as a government corporation.
    The bill empowers the Authority to, among others, approve or disapprove plans, programs, or projects proposed by local government offices, public corporations, and private persons where such plans, programs, or projects "are related to those of the Authority for the development of the region as envisioned in this act."
    The bill provides that those whose plans, programs, or projects were disapproved by the authority may appeal the decision to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
    The bill gives the country's president the power to appoint the Authority's general manager. Under Section 17, the general manager shall be the authority's chief executive.
    Under Section 12 of the bill, the authority's corporate powers "shall be vested in and exercised by a board of directors which shall be composed of nine members: the executive secretary; Neda's director general; the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; the secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; the secretary of the Department of Energy; the chairman of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; a provincial governor representing the provinces that comprise the Sierra Madre region, who shall be designated and elected by the 10 provincial governors; a city/town mayor representing the cities/towns that comprise the Sierra Madre region; and the Authority's general manager."
    The bill was filed on Thursday, July 14. During the 18th Congress, the creation of a Sierra Madre Development Authority was also proposed but was not given priority. The 19th Congress will open the regular session later this month.