by Susan Aro

 A presidential form of government following the national structure where the governor and the vice governor are elected at large including the legislative assembly, has been adopted as the form of regional government under an autonomous set-up for the Cordillera during the deliberation of the working draft for the proposed third autonomy act.

The Third Autonomy Act Drafting Committee chaired by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan which was tasked by the Regional Development Council to prepare a working draft, is currently conducting deliberations of the contents of the proposed autonomy act.


Most of the sentiments gathered in sectoral and provincial consultations also suggested the same scheme.
Atty. Alex Bangsoy cited the advantages of a presidential form of government: the regional governor and vice governor are elected at large; and the people are given the right to elect a representative of their choice.
Bangsoy also explained that the Constitutional provision prescribes a presidential form of government. Here, there is stability of government, he said.

On the other hand, adapting the parliamentary form of government has legal implications. Moreover, if no confidence votes are cast, they could easily remove the leader they have installed. The repercussion is that it destabilizes the government, Bangsoy said.



RDC chair Virgilio Bautista defended the need for the vice governor in a presidential form to be part of the executive branch who takes over the functions of the governor in the event he is out of town or is on leave.
There were other proposed forms of government discussed. Former Baguio City Councilor Atty. Jose Molintas forwarded the semi-parliamentary form of government where the governor and other officials including the speaker of the assembly are elected by consensus from among the legislative assembly. He argued that in the Cordillera, the selection of a leader has always been through a consensus.

Private sector Representative Peter Cosalan is batting for a purely parliamentary form where the governor and vice governor are elected by consensus from among the legislative body. However, the governor and vice governor are still part of the assembly; the governor chairs the legislative body.

There are advantages of adapting the parliamentary form of government, he said. It is cheap as there is no need for election by the constituents. Selection is carried out by consensus from among the legislative assembly.

It was eventually agreed that the presidential form, following the local government unit structure as such the vice governor automatically chairs the legislative body be adopted.

After the deliberations and refinement of the working draft crafted by the TAADC technical working group, the TAADC will come up with a final draft which they will consult with the governors and CAR congressmen before submission to Congress for their consideration.*(JDP/SCA - PIA CAR Baguio)