“We are more than ready…,” - Congressman Mangaoang on Cordillera Autonomy

Tabuk City, Kalinga―Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang, in his statements, during the hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Local Government (CLG) of the proposed law ‘Establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera,’ underscored that region is more than ready.

With the bills filed for the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera, it is hoped that the dreams of the Cordillerans shall be realized.

House Bill 5687, filed by all CAR Congressmen, and HB 7778 filed by Benguet Caretaker Congressman Eric Yap were up for deliberation by the Committee chaired by Tarlac 3rd District Representative Noel Villanueva.

Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang looking back explained that the provinces and the chartered city that comprise the Cordillera region today were once divided between Regions 1 and 2 from 1972 to 1987 during a period of rapid change and development in the country.

He added that the failure of the past attempts at regional autonomy was attributed to poor information dissemination and a lack of readiness and unity among the provinces.

“…the Cordillerans that were once divided on the issue of autonomy are now united in the quest for self-determination,” he uttered.

“We are more than ready, our effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic using our traditions, the culture of sharing, ingenuity, and resilience showed our readiness for self-governance. The Cordillera region has become one of the best performing regions in the fight against COVID-19; this demonstrates an unquestionable capacity for self-determination,” he continued.

Moreover, Congressman Maximo Dalog Jr. emphasized that autonomy for the Cordillera will bring the region to national attention with the promotion of multicultural and economic policies as well as sustainable development through the management of natural resources based on indigenous knowledge of the region’s unique environment.

While Baguio City Representative Mark Go clarified that information on Cordillera autonomy has been a continuing discussion, technology has afforded the Cordillera region. With its historically remote and isolated villages, a better opportunity to disseminate information among its stakeholders.

Cordillera Regional Development Council Vice-Chair and NEDA-CAR Regional Director Milagros Rimando highlighted that there has been a convergence of stakeholders expressing their support for Cordillera autonomy unlike in the past.

She added that the Cordillera Regional Development Plan has always focused on the attainment of Cordillera autonomy primarily to address inappropriate national policies and program standards imposed in the geographically-unique and culturally diverse region.

Meanwhile, Congressman Villanueva also committed the full support of the 18th Congress House of Representatives Committee on Local Government in conducting regional consultations and finally getting a bill passed into law establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.

“We have so much work to do but we have one objective in mind, in this 18th Congress, we will pass the enacting law for the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera,” he said.

History of the region to autonomy

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was established on July 15, 1987 through executive Order No. 220 issued by President Corazon Aquino. It is the only land-locked region of the Philippines consisting of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao.

The Cordillera People’s Alliance lobbied members of the Commission for the inclusion of the autonomous region for the Cordillera in spite of oppositions from some Cordillera groups and local government officials in 1987.

On January 30, 1990, pursuant to the Philippine Constitution a plebiscite was held on RA 6766 (An Act providing for an Organic Act for the Cordillera Autonomous Region) enacted by Congress on October 23, 1989.

The main advocate groups on autonomy and various leading personalities including politicians were not united in their stand. Some supported and campaigned for the organic act; others were opposed to it and campaigned against it.

All the Cordillera provinces under CAR except the province of Ifugao voted against this first organic act.

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