Tinio, Bolinget question Cordillera autonomy bill; Debate over self-rule intensifies

BAGUIO CITY — Questions over regional self-government, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, control of natural resources, and the territorial integrity of the Cordillera have fueled calls to reject House Bill No. 6981, which seeks to establish the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

ACT Teachers Party-list Representative and House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio and Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Chairperson Windel Bolinget raised these concerns during a regional conference on genuine autonomy held at Venus Parkview Hotel on October 13, according to a report released by the Baguio City Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Tinio questioned whether the proposed measure would grant Cordillerans meaningful autonomy or mainly transfer government functions from national agencies to a regional administration.

He cited the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a point of comparison, particularly its regional powers, judicial institutions, and policing mechanisms.

Tinio also questioned how the proposed regional government would finance its operations, warning that dependence on revenues from mining, hydroelectric power, renewable energy, and economic zone projects could influence the region’s development priorities.

He likewise raised concerns about the proposed ratification process, which would allow the autonomous region to be established if at least two provinces or cities vote in favor. He questioned the implications for communities that reject the proposal and warned that the measure could benefit political dynasties and weaken Cordilleran identity.

Bolinget, meanwhile, called for the rejection of HB 6981, describing it as “bogus autonomy” that he said would preserve the status quo instead of guaranteeing genuine self-determination for Indigenous Peoples.

He criticized the provision allowing only provinces and cities that vote in favor of autonomy to join the proposed region. According to his interpretation of the bill, areas that vote against it could be placed under neighboring administrative regions through an executive order.

Bolinget warned that this arrangement could divide Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, as well as the cities of Baguio and Tabuk.

He also questioned the bill’s definition of Cordilleran identity, arguing that it relies too heavily on residency and does not adequately recognize the region’s Indigenous character and collective rights to ancestral lands, territories, resources, and culture.

The CPA chairperson further raised concerns over the proposed powers of the regional governor, including authority over appointments and local government units, participation in resource development agreements, and the ability to request military assistance during regional emergencies.

He argued that these provisions could concentrate power in the regional government without giving communities sufficient control over decisions affecting their lives and resources.

Bolinget also questioned whether the proposed autonomous government would have adequate authority over mining, energy, and other resource development activities, citing the continued application of national laws and policies, including the Mining Act and Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code.

He said these policies could limit the region’s ability to protect Indigenous land rights and determine development priorities based on community needs. He also raised concerns over safeguards against human rights violations, militarization, and the repression of community protests.

The CPA chairperson cited the failed autonomy plebiscites of 1990 and 1998, arguing that the creation of a regional government alone would not guarantee meaningful self-rule. He urged Cordillerans to oppose HB 6981 and vote against it should a plebiscite take place in 2027.

What House Bill 6981 proposes

House Bill No. 6981 seeks to establish an autonomous regional government for the Cordillera and provide the basic structure of its government.

The measure outlines a proposed framework for regional governance and the exercise of autonomous powers. Its territorial provisions would make the composition of the proposed region dependent on a ratification plebiscite, with provinces and cities voting in favor eligible to join the autonomous region.

The bill aims to establish a regional governance structure through which government functions and development planning can be handled at the regional level. Supporters of regional autonomy have argued that self-government could make governance more responsive to the Cordillera’s needs.

However, critics contend that the measure does not go far enough in ensuring Indigenous self-determination, collective territorial integrity, meaningful control over natural resources, and safeguards against the concentration of political power.

As of the preparation of this report, no response yet on the concerns raised during the conference had been released by Baguio City Representative Mauricio Domogan or other authors of the measure, the Cordillera Regional Development Council, or the Department of Economy, Planning and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region.

The conference gathered more than 200 participants, including delegates from Cordillera provinces, Indigenous Peoples residing in Baguio City, Indigenous rights organizations, and local media. It was organized by the CPA, Tongtongan ti Umili, and the Cordillera Women’s Education, Action, Research Center (CWEARC), with local officials and representatives also participating.

The discussions focused on the proposed measure’s implications for regional governance, Indigenous rights, resource control, and the Cordillera people’s pursuit of self-determination.