Cordillera Autonomous Region’s time has come

WITH the enactment and signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, national attention now shifts to the Cordillera Organic Law, House Bill No. 5343, “An act establishing the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC),” filed by the congressmen representing six provinces and one city which will make up the autonomous region.

The bill had been filed with the House of Representatives on March 20, 2017, by Representatives Teddy B. Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos of Abra, Eleanor Bulut Begtang of Apayao, Ronald M. Cosalan of Benguet, Maximo B. Dalog of Mountain Province, Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang of Kalinga, and Mark O. Go of Baguio City.

For years before the EDSA revolution of 1986, groups of Cordillera people had carried out an insurgency against the national government, charging discrimination and neglect and demanding recognition of their rights as indigenous peoples in their ancestral domain. The Cordillera People’s Liberation Army led by Conrado Balweg finally laid down its arms in an agreement signed in 1986. The next year, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order 220 creating the Cordillera Administrative Region, with these mandates – to administer the affairs of government in the region, to accelerate its economic and social growth and development, and to prepare for the establishment of a Cordillera autonomous region.

The Bangsamoro and the Cordillera regions became part of the 1987 Constitution, with Section 15, Article X, providing: “There shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordillera consisting of the provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographic areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics.”

Two organic acts establishing the Cordillera Autonomous Region failed ratification in 1990 and 1998, with studies revealing that this was due to the people’s lack of understanding of the autonomy issue, compounded by misinformation drives by some sectors

Early this year, a Cordillera Leaders Forum was convened where support for the autonomous region solidified, with encouragement from the new administration’s Secretary Jesus Dureza of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. President Duterte himself expressed his support for Cordillera’s aspiration to become an autonomous region as mandated by the Constitution.

The time is indeed ripe for the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera. The explanatory note to House Bill No. 5343, states: “Cordillera autonomy is seen as the most effective option to provide the region with the needed solid foundation to pursue sustainable development as the region hopes to benefit from the management and use of its natural resources. Cordillera autonomy will bring the national attention as well as the benefits of accepting and promoting cultural diversity through the formulation of multi-cultural policies for indigenous peoples.”

Mindanao senators, congressmen, and other officials recently called for the swift approval of House Bill No. 5343. Citing the support of Luzon legislators for the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Mindanao congressmen sought to return the favor and called for the swift passage of the organic law for CAR. “We must give our brothers in the north the same autonomy we gave our brothers in the south,” Rep. Manuel F. Zubiri of Bukidnon said.

A lifelong dream of the Cordillera people will be realized when the Cordillera Organic Law will be finally approved by Congress and signed into law by President Duterte. We hope that day will be soon.