BAGUIO CITY – Cordillerans should have a clear understanding of why the region continues to aspire for regional autonomy. This was how outgoing Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey.
In his talk, Director Odsey pointed out the need for the youth and the residents of the region to have a clear perspective on what autonomy is really all about and on how this would benefit the region once autonomy is obtained.
“What is the autonomy that we will be campaigning for? There should be a clear understanding of autonomy and relate it to the development of the region which is the main purpose of autonomy,” Odsey explained.
The Cordillera autonomy movement in the Philippines refers to the campaign for greater autonomy for the Cordilleras.
The 1986 Constitution allows for the establishment of two autonomous regions in the country; Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras. Two plebiscites (1990 and 1998) were conducted in the Cordillera to legalize the autonomous status of the area where the majority of the voters rejected autonomy. The area is currently under the jurisdiction of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), a group which separated from the NPA in 1986, along with the Montañosa National Solidarity and the Cordillera Bodong Administration fought for greater autonomy in the Cordillera and against what it perceives as internal colonialism by the Philippine central government.
The CPLA advocated utilization and stewardship of lands by communes as opposed to private proprietorship and the direct democracy through village assemblies and council of elders. It also promoted the bodong system as a “supra-tribal expression” of the “spirit of social cooperation”. They also proposed the conversion of the country into a federal republic as an alternative with each state having co-equal status.
On September 13, 1986 the CPLA and the Government of the Philippines made a “sipat” or cessation of hostilities in Mt. Data Hotel, in Bauko, Mountain Province. The agreement between the two entities were dubbed as the 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord. Furthermore, the Manabo pagta or covenant was signed on December 1, 1986 in Manabo, Abra by local tribal elders. The 1987 Philippine Constitution included the prospect of autonomy for the Cordillera region.
“But even if we would succeed in achieving autonomy in the region, there will still be national laws that would govern us. Our objective of self-determination in terms of managing the development of the region will still have to be in-line with the development programs of the national government but, will be supported by Regional Line Agencies through their government programs and projects with emphasis on its implementation suitable for Cordillera regional development,” Odsey added.
The Mount Data Peace Accord and the “Manabo pagta” led to the establishment of the Cordillera Administrative Region through the issuance of Executive Order 220 on July 15, 1987, by then President Corazon Aquino with the intention of converting the region to an autonomous one. The provinces of Abra, Benguet and Mountain Province (of the Ilocos Region), and Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao (of Cagayan Valley) were annexed as part of the newly created region.
At present, efforts to make a third bid to legalize autonomy in the Cordillera are being undertaken. Bills to establish an Organic Act for an autonomous region in Cordillera include House Bill No. 5595 filed during the 15th Congress and House Bill No. 4649 filed during the 16th Congress, both of which failed to pass.
In the 17th Congress, House Bill No. 5343, “An Act Establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC)” was filed on March 20, 2017 during its first regular session and was supported by all House representatives from the Cordilleras. It was also the first time in history that all provincial and city governments throughout the Cordilleras supported Cordilleran autonomy.
Currently, there are three pending Cordillera autonomy bills in the 18th Congress, House Bill No. 5687 filed by all Cordillera Congressmen, Senate Bill No. 1232 filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Bill No. 7778 filed by Benguet legislative caretaker Eric Yap of ACT-CIS Partylist.
