BAGUIO CITY – NEDA-CAR in coordination with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) and the CAR Congressmen conducted the Multi-Stakeholder Gathering on Cordillera Autonomy last December 12 to discuss key features of the newly-filed House Bill no. 5687 establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera and gather champions for its passage into law.
All Cordillera provinces and the chartered city of Baguio represented by their respective Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Panlungsod presented their respective resolutions which expressed their support to the autonomy pursuit. Regional Directors Milagros Rimando of NEDA and Marlo Iringan of DILG presented the statements of support from the RDC-CAR and the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives (CARE), as Vice-Chair and President, respectively. RDC-CAR Private Sector Representative for Abra, Philip Tingonong likewise presented the Cordillera Civil Society Organizations’ manifesto of support. Through Vice-Chair Representative Police Regional Office Cordillera Deputy Director PB Gen, Joseph Gohel, the Regional Peace and Order Council also presented their statement of support.
HB 5687 was filed on December 2, 2019. Ifugao Congressman Solomon Chungalao underscored the unanimous approval of all the Cordillera Congressmen of the bill which they all signed as authors.
He added that the Cordilleran solons are currently gathering the aid of other members of the Lower House as they have already guaranteed the backing of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Committee chaired by Abra Cong. Joseph Bernos. Continuing his championing of the Cordillera and autonomous governance, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri filed his counter-part bill on December 11, 2019 as announced by the Cordillera Congressmen.
Guest speaker PLLO Undersecretary Gerard Salapantan represented Sec. Adelino Sitoy in the event. Salapantan committed his office and ensured its passage in both Houses of Congress. PLLO Assistant Secretary Orville Ballitoc shared that they are working to get Cordillera autonomy as one of the legislative priorities of the administration. PLLO has committed to Cordillera autonomy in line with the President’s agenda of Federalism. Ballitoc, who is also from Ifugao, said that his office is working with the RDC through NEDA-CAR towards a repeat of the 2017 meeting of Cordillera leaders with President Rodrigo Duterte to be held early 2020.
The Cordillera Regional Development Council, with NEDA-CAR as secretariat, spearheaded the renewed pursuit of Cordillera autonomy through a resolution in 2006 and through the NEDA Social Preparation of CAR into an Autonomous Region (NEDA-SPCAR) Program in 2008. NEDA-CAR Regional Director Milagros Rimando said that awareness and support for Cordillera Autonomy has continued to grow over the years. It has grown, particularly, in the grassroots sector which is the primary target for information dissemination.
By Marlo Lubguban