BAGUIO CITY—President Rodrigo R. Duterte has agreed to certify House Bill 5343, which seeks to establish the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera, as an urgent administration measure alongside the proposed enhanced Bangsamoro autonomous region bill for appropriate action by the members of the 17th Congress.
Speaking before over 120 Cordillera leaders Tuesday night at Malacañang, the President recognized the need for the devolution of more powers of the national government to the local government units.
This would include the autonomous regions to be established, greater control of natural resources by the host communities, and the implementation of more development projects in the countryside “to ensure that the people will reap the fruits of genuine development and for them not to be left behind in terms of growth and development,” as provided for in the bill.
However, Duterte said the control and supervision of the armed forces and the police will remain with the national government, so as not to create serious repercussions to the overall security of the archipelago “from internal and external forces wanting to ruin the stability of the nation.”
The President assured the Cordillera leaders he will allocate two slots for the region in a consultative commission that will be created as the region pursues autonomy in preparation for a shift to a federal form of government.
Officials and members of the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera staged the meeting with Duterte through the persistence of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza.
Present during the meeting with the President were Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, Benguet Rep. M. Cosalan, Abra Rep. Joseph Bernos, Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang (also the appointed Mountain Province Caretaker for Congress).
Also present were Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso, Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., Ifugao Gov. Pedro Mayam-o, Kalinga Acting Gov. James Edubba, Baguio City Mayor and RDC-CAR chairman Mauricio G. Domogan, Tabuk City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban, Abra Vice Gov. and Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army Chairman Ronald Balao-as, Apayao Vice Gov. Remy Albano, Benguet Vice Gov. Florence Tingbaoen, Mountain Province Vice Gov. Francis Tauli, Ifugao Vice Gov. Jordan Gollitiw and Kalinga Acting Vice Gov. Shirlynne D. Alunday, most municipal mayors and representatives from civil society groups.
Domogan presented the issues and concerns that need the intervention of the President, and emphasized the need for the certification of HB 5343 as an urgent measure. He expressed the gratitude of the Cordillera leaders to the President for the chance to meet with him and air their sentiments, and emphasized they are now unified for the region’s renewed quest for autonomy.
