TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Gov. James S. Edduba rallied the new set of officers of the Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) to unite and work for the realization of the long overdue establishment of the autonomous region in the Cordillera.
Edduba administered the oath of office of the new set of officers of the CBA-CPLA where Henry Tan will serve as the regional head of the CBA while Boliney Mayor Ronald Balao-as will serve as the CPLA region head.
The governor reminded the CBA-CPLA officers of the unique cordillera identity for everyone to stand up for it and pass the same to the future generations.
The local chief executive pointed out that the third crack for Cordillera autonomy might be the last chance for the region to be converted into an autonomous region, thus, the need for cooperation and teamwork among Cordillerans to be able to realize the long overdue dream of self-governance for the benefit of future generations.
Local officials also challenge the CBA-CPLA officers to be stewards of the region’s rich natural resources to help sustain the identity of the cordillera as the watershed cradle of Northern Luzon and be able to pass on to the future generations a well preserved and protected environment.
For his part, mayor Balao-as agreed with the contention of gov. Edduba said that the third attempt for autonomy might be the last chance of the Cordillerans to achieve self-rule that is why cooperation among the people is needed to achieve the same and give justice to what their ancestors had been fighting for in the past.
On the other hand, Tan assured CPLA officials that the CBA will be their partner in the autonomy campaign that is why efforts are being done to aggressively lobby for the immediate passage of House Bill (HB) 3267 or the bill that seeks to establish the Cordillera Autonomous Region so that the same will be submitted to the people for ratification.
The proposed autonomy bill is now being lined up by Cordillera lawmakers, in close coordination with chairpersons of the various House committees, for plenary debates so that the same will be approved on third and final reading before Congress will go on synergy adjournment by the first week of June so that it will be transmitted to the Senate for the approval of its counterpart measure.
HB 3267 is authored by all Cordillera lawmakers to show their unity in the region’s renewed quest for autonomy to convince their fellow lawmakers in the House to pass the same as the clamor for the establishment of the autonomous region has been long overdue.
Earlier, the House committees on local government, ways and means and appropriations passed the proposed autonomy level in their respective committees and that the same is awaiting its being calendared for plenary debates by the House committee on rules chaired by the House Majority Floor Leader.
Autonomy advocates pointed out that autonomy is the best way to go for the Cordillera because it will pave the way for the regional government to craft policies and programs that will be feasible for implementation in the region with lesser restraint from outside forces.
