Posted on | Friday 17 June 2011 | No Comments
A THIRD stab at Cordillera regional autonomy appears to have gained a favorable head start for the upland territory. However, the enthusiasm of autonomy advocates, particularly among provincial and city leaders, may be damped by certain developments concerning Cordilleran's themselves on the issue of regional autonomy as well what position the national leadership may take on the renewed drive for autonomy.
Last Tuesday, May 31, political leaders of the six provinces and two cities of the Cordilleras were upbeat on the chances for success of the new campaign for regional autonomy. Attending a regional assembly in the city precisely to get a feel of the final draft for a proposed organic act for regional autonomy, advocates for Cordillera autonomy see better chance for the eventual approval of the move.
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In the past, Cordillera voters came up with a strong rejection of regional autonomy. In 1990, the plebiscite on regional autonomy through RA 6766 was rejected with only the Province of Ifugao voting in the affirmative. Again, in 1998, a similar plebiscite on RA 8438 likewise met with defeat with only the Province of Apayao voting in favor.
For now, the general public is still in the dark on what the draft organic act contains. This could be another disaster in the making if insufficient or, worse, if the voters are not able to see and appreciate what's in the new organic act. In fact, no less than Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogon stressed the need for a resounding citizen endorsement of the draft organic act before its finalization and being forwarded to Congress for corresponding action.
Even now, copies of the draft organic act should be in the printing process and immediately distributed to the regional voters where they can get a closer and better feel of Cordillera autonomy, possibly on its advantages in the end. This week, media practitioners in Baguio say they have to get hold of a copy of the draft organic act.
Another roadblock which could derail the renewed drive for regional autonomy is on what to expect from the national leadership in this regard. It is well known and publicized that Malacañang is pushing for the cancellation of the forthcoming election for officials of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm). Will the Cordillera region get an endorsement for regional autonomy when in fact it is opposed to new elections for Armm officials? No less than Domogan himself told local newsmen that the President is "cool" to Cordillera autonomy so far. Domogan said the President may look more kindly to Cordillera autonomy if strong public clamor among Cordillerans will support the move. Although the Cordilleras together with Muslim Mindanao in the 1986 Constitution have been mandated to be the two autonomous regions of the country, the postponement of the Armm elections, if it finally materialized, may not prove to be encouraging for Cordillera autonomy as well. At this writing the Senate will still have to act on Malacañang's proposal for postponing the Armm polls. The fly in the ointment in this regard is the position taken by the Senate committee on local governments chaired by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which is opposed to the postponement of the forthcoming Armm election.
With these, it falls in waiting for Cordillera autonomy. It seems there is not much to celebrate really as far as Cordillera autonomy is concerned. Cordillerans have got to really work harder and in a more cohesive way for President Noy to take note and extend his blessings to the project. And this could only be attained a resounding endorsement for regional autonomy by the Cordillerans themselves, not by a few placed local and regional political leaders
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