Pursuing Cordillera regional autonomy

EDITORIAL 

For many years, the government had tried to attain a Cordillera Autonomous Region as provided for under the Philippine Constitution. But until now, for autonomy proponents, this is still a dream.
    Lately, the Baguio City Council announced it had created a group to hold public hearings on the matter.  
Cordillera Representatives Menchie Bernos of Abra, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang of Apayao, Mark Go of Baguio City, Eric Yap of Benguet, Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao, Allen Jesse Mangaoang of Kalinga, and Maximo Dalog Jr. of Mountain Province filed House Bill 3267 on August 8, 2022 which sought to establish the Cordillera Autonomous Region.
    The bill sought to establish an effective political entity, provide for basic structure of government in recognition of fundamental and Constitutional right of Cordillerans to self-determination and pursuit of their duty to protect, conserve and develop their patrimony and cultural heritage and attainment of meaningful and effective governance.  
     “Two Organic Acts for the creation of the Cordillera autonomous region were enacted in 1990 and in 1998. However, both measures were rejected by Cordillerans in separate plebiscites. Following these two failed attempts, information dissemination campaigns and public consultations were conducted to craft a legislative measure that will truly reflect needs and aspirations of the people of the Cordilleras for regional autonomy,” the lawmakers said in the explanatory note said.
     “The quest for autonomy continues, as many areas in the Cordillera remain underdeveloped. Autonomy shall serve as the foundation upon which the people of Cordillera shall be empowered to pursue sustainable and including growth, through the management, protection and development of their natural and human resources, and the promotion of the rights and culture of the Cordilleran people. It is through its progress and growth as an autonomous political entity that the Cordillerans can tap its potentials and contribute to national success,” it added.
    The lawmakers stated “the collective aspiration of the Cordillerans for genuine autonomy is rooted on right to self-determination of the people fueled by a long history of struggle for the recognition of their rights. It is high time that we make good on this Constitutional mandate, and allow the Cordillerans to determine their political status and to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. By adapting necessary amendments and proposals, we have consistently endeavored to evolve this legislative measure as a product of the collaborative participation of all stakeholders. With clearer understanding of autonomy, its implications and effects on the lives of our people and on the future of Cordillerans, the time is ripe for us to once again present to the Cordillerans the opportunity to realize this deeply ingrained desire.”
    In the 18th Congress, all the Cordillera congressmen authored and filed House Bills 5687 and 7778   for the establishment of the CAR. The two bills were consolidated in HB 10729, which was approved on third reading on May 30, 2022 and was subsequently transmitted to the Senate for the supposed passage of its counterpart measure on May 31, 2022.
    However, based on the legislative procedure of the legislative department, the Senate was not be able to pass HB 5687 into law after the adjournment of the 18th Congress.
    Now the Cordillera Regional Development Council is pushing through with the drive to attain autonomy. But there are groups like the Cordillera People’s Alliance who maintain that genuine autonomy could only be attained under a truly sovereign state.
    A third Organic Act, if a when presented to Cordillera constituents in a plebiscite would determine where the region is headed to.