House to check funding under Cordillera autonomous region

QUEZON CITY -- The House committee on local government has approved House Bill 3267 authored by all Cordillera district representatives to establish the Cordillera Autonomous Region but the panel led by Valenzuela First District Rep. Rex Gatchalian, referred the proposed autonomy law to the House committee on appropriations and committee on ways and means for approval of financial aspect of the measure.
    The approval of the bill on House committee level was done in the physical and virtual presence of authors Abra Rep. Menchie Bernos, Apayao Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang and Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr.
    During early stages of the proceedings, Gatchalian was inclined to order the creation of a technical working group that will look into the contents of the proposed autonomy law as he was of the impression that it was not passed on third reading during the 18th Congress.
    But Mangaoang invoked Rule 10, Section 48 of the internal rules of procedures of the House, which provided if a bill approved on third reading in the previous Congress will be refiled and will not be contested by any member or resource person, the same can be immediately passed by the concerned House committee dispensing of the deliberations as it is presumed matters have been extensively deliberated upon by House members.
    He added authors will work closely to lobby for immediate passage of the proposed measure with the House committee on ways and means headed by Albay Second District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente "Joey" Salceda and the House Committee on Appropriations led by Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

The Kalinga congressman said early passage of the bill in the committee level will allow authors to have time to work with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for issuance of certification that this is a priority administration measure so both chambers of Congress will act fast on the proposed measure.

Last  Aug. 8, all Cordillera representatives filed HB 3267 that seeks to create the CAR to ensure there will be enough time for it to be acted upon by  concerned committees tasked to render their approval of the measure, especially financial provisions of the bill.

Last May 30, the House approved on third and final reading the consolidated HB 10729 seeking establishment of the CAR which will be composed of provinces and cities that will ratify the Organic Act during a plebiscite that will be scheduled for the purpose.