| | | Regional autonomy, in the context of RDC's Agenda on Regional Development and Autonomy for the Cordillera, refers to the establishment of a regional autonomous government to which national government powers, functions, duties and responsibilities will be transferred or devolved with corresponding financial and other resources, with the power to manage such resources per Article 10, sec. 15-21 of the Philippine Constitution Aside from the transfer of government powers and resources, and free determination of how we govern or manage ourselves in accordance with law and acceptable Cordillera customs and practices, Cordillera regional autonomy also means the preservation of the territorial and political aggrupation of the six (6) Cordillera provinces and the City of Baguio, whose people commonly share certain peculiarities, cultural heritage, aspirations and dreams. Regional development and autonomy for the Cordillera is being pursued by the RDC mainly for socio-economic reasons – it is believed by the RDC that an autonomous region in the Cordillera will allow better decision-making on appropriate plans, policies and projects that would accelerate socio-economic development in the Cordillera.
|
| |
| IPRA provides for the recognition and promotion of the rights of the IPs but within the framework of national unity and development (Sec. 2 IPRA), thus making the IPRA as vehicle devoid/deficient in accessories and maintenance services. That is, the IPRA must still operate within a political system that is too centralized where policies and programs are decided and standards are set at the national level and applied nationwide. Under this set-up, CAR always receives the losing end because CAR does not meet the requisites of national standards in terms of geography and number and homogeneity of its IP population. Given our history and our ethno-geopolitical configuration and character, the only way to have our vehicle responsive and a utility for development is to become autonomous.
|
What are the advantages of regional autonomy What additional benefits do we get from being autonomous region, that is absent from CAR's current set-up
| What degree of autonomy will the Cordillera enjoy if it becomes autonomous? Will it be just the same set-up where people will exercise their political, cultural and social affairs the way things are under the present laws and political structure? Or will there be a strikingly distinct set up where people can say they are autonomous?
| the the right to govern/manage ourselves and our natural resources using appropriate planning standards the opportunity to design appropriate policies, programs and projects fitted to Cordillera’s peculiarities (mountainous terrain, dominant IP population with unique cultures, etc..) the preservation of our cultural heritage non-disintegration/preservation of the six CAR provinces and the City of Baguio
It is expected that as stakeholders come out and truly dissect the autonomy agenda, advantages and disadvantages will be uncovered, thus providing good inputs in the drafting of the Third Organic Act.
|
| | | An additional burden on our part to demonstrate that we are capable to manage our affairs properly and more effectively??? Unless we are vigilant, local politics could delay decisions on critical policies and programs. Likewise, corruption in the implementation of government projects could go unchecked unless precautionary measures are in place and the local population closely involved in project monitoring.
|
| | | Yes, with Cordillera given the power to decide the appropriateness of its own programs and projects, it is expected that government programs and projects will have higher and wider impact. The multi-billion assistance from national government could jump-start critical programs and projects that are necessary for Cordillera's socio-economic development.
|
| | Does the RDC have a legal personality to pursue regional autonomy in the Cordillera? It is only the Congress which has the mandate to enact the Organic Act and not RDC The RDC is not an implementing Agency to do IEC
| In preparing the region for regional autonomy as provided for in the Constitution, EO 220 established CAR, which provided special bodies to undertake the cudgel of preparing the region for autonomy. These bodies, however, were deactivated in 2000 for obvious reasons. Hence, in 2001, EO 30 established the RDC for CAR to fill the vacuum of regional development coordination. With no institution or entity pursuing regional autonomy, and with the strong and well-founded belief that regional autonomy will significantly improve the present regional socio-economic situation, RDC, as the highest policy-making body in the region to coordinate and set the direction of all socio-economic development in the region, decided to pursue regional autonomy as the over-arching theme of its development endeavours. The RDC is composed of local government officials, regional line agencies and the private sector representatives.
|
| | | Our readiness to assume regional autonomy depends to a large extent of the awareness and acceptability of the autonomy agenda among Cordillerans. That is why RDC undertakes IEC in an effort to explain the autonomy agenda to all local and national stakeholders. The RDC has also taken the initiative of capacitating CAR institutions (LGUs/ RLAs/ SUCs/ structural mechanisms) to gradually take measures geared towards the absorption of the 8-plus areas of governance that will devolved in an autonomous set-up as provided for in the Constitution. Regional autonomy is not about being independent and self-sufficient from national government. Rather it refers to the establishment of a regional autonomous government to which national government powers, functions, duties and responsibilities will be transferred or devolved with corresponding financial and other resources, with the power to manage such resources per Article 10, sec. 15-21 of the Philippine Constitution
|
| | Autonomy is the right to self-determination. It is not granted; it is asserted. The initiative should come from the people and not dictated by the national government. If we allow the national government to run the show, we will have a token autonomous region.
| There are many concepts of autonomy depending on the particular circumstance and viewpoints of those speaking about it. What the RDC is pursuing is regional development and autonomy as provided for in the Philippine Constitution. Local government autonomy has already been granted by the Local Government Code of 1990. At this stage, we are not yet advocating a particular brand or form of regional autonomy, but simply informing, educating, communicating the RDC's agenda on regional development and autonomy thus gradually building up consensus and participation towards the drafting of a Third Organic Act that will be acceptable to the Cordillerans and other stakeholders.
|
| | | It is true, but there are actually a lot of reasons why the two Organic Acts were not accepted. That is why the RDC employs several modes to properly inform, educate and communicate the regional development and autonomy agenda to all stakeholders, and eventually get their support and participation in drafting of an Organic Act that is acceptable to all stakeholders, both Cordillerans, non-Cordillerans, and national government. The RDC has also engaging the assistance of established institutions, as well as government entities as well as credible private individuals and community leaders who often rub elbows with community people and tasking them to elaborate on the r regional development and autonomy agenda.
|
| | | DILG focuses on Local officials and employees at the moment because these officials are also expected to download/ communicate to lower level constituents DILG has operational supervision over such LGUs. - In the same manner, government employees, especially at regional level, are supposed to understand fully the autonomy agenda, because in an autonomous set-up, these employees will report to the regional Governor. In addition, these RLA employees when fully informed of the autonomy agenda, are also expected to download/communicate to their provincial counterparts as well as their direct clients at local levels.
|
| | | The IEC which formally commenced in the last quarter of 2008 is still on the trail-blazing phase in which we are merely increasing the general awareness and understanding of regional development and autonomy for the Cordillera. The RDC is trying its best to reach every person in all corners of the Cordillera, directly and indirectly. That is why it is employing a myriad of strategies (to include the conduct of various fora, round-table deliberations, formal and informal discussions) just to inform, educate, and communicate the regional development and autonomy agenda, and hence have this understood more deeply in order to erase misconceptions and dis-informations while at the same time generating views to input into what the RDC or key leaders should next do and what we, as Cordillerans must do.
|
| | | General Public (kapihan, presscons, reversed presscon with region-wide hook-ups, essay writing, radio interviews, etc..), Website (news/views blogs, email lists, RDC webmail facility, networking with Cordi sites, moderated discussion lists, etc..), Alternative mechanisms (Inclusion of the autonomy agenda during tribal conferences, established community aggrupations, professional conventions and activities, etc...) Inclusion of Cordillera cultures and regional autonomy in the curriculum; production of learning materials, IEC for government officials and employees who should be the very first stakeholders who should support regional autonomy, and The establishment of an RDC Speaker's Bureau composed of committed, knowledgeable and credible personalities.
|
| | | The RDC has always emphasizes in its IEC briefings that its role is to manage regional activities that will lead to the crafting of a draft organic act, not for itself to craft one. In fact, the RDC has identified its four-pronged role in Agenda implementation that are:
to inform Cordillerans through IEC activities and making them understand the option of regional autonomy as a strategy to hasten achieving higher levels of socio-economic development in the region; to provide the venue for Cordillerans to help define the kind of autonomy that is most appropriate and acceptable to them by gathering feedback and proposals for possible incorporation in a draft organic act; to manage the effort to arrive at a regional consensus through regional consensus-building activities eventually resulting to a draft organic act prepared by Cordillerans; and to lead the lobby with Congress for enactment of an Organic Act.
This four-pronged role is in accordance with the RDC’s re-invention of itself in assuming the role of preparing the region for autonomy. As planned by RDC, 2008 to 2010 is trail-blazing phase aimed at increasing the awareness and understanding of the autonomy agenda among stakeholders. A tracking survey in 2010 should tell us if sufficient number of people have been informed and substantial consensus has already been built up to support the drafting of a Third Organic Act
|
| | | RDC's “social preparation for autonomy” is being pursued in 3 strategies: a) IEC; b) Capability building, and c) Program management. IEC component was allocated a total of 7.9 M , Capability building got 12.1M, 10M of which were allocated to critical KFA activities, Program management which includes policy studies and continuing engagement with national government and Congress got 7.3M.
Previous activities in 2007 got 5.7M for various training, tracking surveys and IEC activities. RDC's management of its 33M allocation is very transparent. RDC is accountable to and reports regularly to the Office of the President, DBM, NEDA-CO, the Cordillera Congressmen and the Senators that supported the autonomy agenda. RDC welcome any inquiry on how it is pursuing its autonomy agenda and its quarterly progress reports. These reports are also available in the RDC website (www.cordillera.gov.ph).
|
| | Could we avail of the 33M to undertake our own IEC? 33 M should be used instead to priority projects “the mismanagement of autonomy campaign funds contributed to the continuing distrust of the people to their officials as the IEC fund had not been shared equally among the barangays.”
| As manager of the 33M, RDC follows a DBM-sanctioned work and financial plan, which lists the priority activities programs, projects and activities to be undertaken. The selection of specific programs projects and activities are based on several factors established by the RDC such as conformance to the overall IEC strategy, readiness for implementations, scope and coverage, track record of proponent, etc... Proponents need to submit their proposals to the RDC for consideration. The 33M (2007 & 2008) was provided to RDC-CAR “...for the social preparation of Cordillera for autonomy”. Using this fund for other purposes is technical malversation.
|
| | How can we make a believable push for autonomy and self-reliance when from the beginning when we are dependent on the national government for the money to work for our so-called “autonomy”? Can we not campaign for autonomy by asserting autonomy from the very start? Or is the autonomy drive merely a budget generating exercise? It cannot move if it does not see the color of money?
| The RDC decision to renew the pursuit of regional development and autonomy as the over-arching theme of its regional development in 2006 was not anchored on the condition that national government has to provide operational funds. RDC's regional development and autonomy agenda proceeds as usual, but at a downscaled and slower manner. RDC reprogrammed some of its uncommitted 2008 funds to critical and downscaled IEC projects. Also, partner agencies and LGUs are being requested to contribute also to the agenda. It is not a matter of money. RDC will find ways of pursuing the agendum without running the risk of using government funds.
|
| | | At this stage, RDC is merely communicating its autonomy agenda, get feedbacks from stakeholders, and build up consensus towards the drafting of a third Organic Act. To enrich the concept of regional autonomy, debates and dissensions particularly on the form and structure was allowed... but need to be clarified.
|
| | | |
| | | RDC has planned a number of avenues by which all stakeholders (not just experts) are encouraged to present their views and suggestions on the regional autonomy concept that is being pursued by the RDC. To aid its IEC work, then RDC established a Speakers Bureau composed of committed and trained members from the government agencies, private sector and credible local personalities. Everyone needs to be consulted, not just the experts.
|
| |
| |
| |
| No, both OAs specified that the autonomous regional government is not allowed to impose additional taxes on the local population. However, the said OA empowers the levying of taxes, fees and charges through the legislative body.
|
| | | No, the national government will continue to provide IRA to all provinces and municipalities using its standard criteria. In no case will they be subsidizing any LGU.
|
| | We will loss our IRA | LGUs will still be receiving its IRA allotments and shares from the the development of its national wealth as provided for in by various laws, As provided for in the two Organic Acts, the national government shall continue to provide appropriations and other budgetary aids to the autonomous region on top of the regular budgets allocated to line agencies operating in the region.
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | Will other tribes lord over the other tribes? Only igorots will benefit from the Autonomy What will happen to the non-Cordillerans? Will not the Tingguians usurp power and lord over the Ilocanos?
| In the past, there may have existed a dividing line between the native population and migrant non-natives or between those from the uplands and the lowlands, but such in real life has already been erased due to intermarriages and constant interaction in the field of business and other endeavours.
|
| |
| |
Can we learn something from ARMM We should learn from what has happened in the ARMM where instead of having a government that is independent in terms of governance, fiscal management, indigenous practices preservation and infrastructure development among others, provinces in these regions remain poor.”
| | While Moslem Mindanao is very different from CAR, in terms of culture, dominant religion and political context, we could still learn from how ARMM in terms of how they operationalized their Organic Act, what policy pitfalls they encountered, and other unintended benefits and disbenefits. Such learning could be factored in the drafting of the Third Organic Act. If implementation of a policy is bad, it does not necessarily mean the Organic Act was bad, rather, it was in the implementation that may have erred.
|
| |
| |
| |
| Yes, 2008 to 2010 is trail-blazing, awareness creating; tracking survey in 2010 should tell us if sufficient number of people have been informed and substantial consensus has already been built up to support the drafting of a Third Organic Act
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | It would be heavenly/ astronomically impossible to say that regional autonomy will stop or prevent corruption but resolving the issue would be faster and quicker we shall be dealing between and among ourselves whom we know personally and or are almost related not only by consanguinity but affinity. Besides, we shall be dealing with the problem within a smaller territory where almost everyone knows everybody. Allowing the surge of corruption would certainly affect not those in the Visayas, Mindanao or other regions but us.
|
| |
| No. certain decisions will be devolved to the regional government instead of the national government doing this. As a result, we expect government action to be faster.
|
| | | An autonomous government set-up entails that a Regional Governor, a deputy or vice-regional governor and a legislative body shall be elected at large. But we do not have yet a Third Organic Act that will define really what the structure would look like. That is why we are in the process of culling out inputs, suggestions or recommendations to the agendum per se and all other matters relative to development and autonomy for the RDC-CAR to act on.
|
| |
| We must understand the implication of this: EO 220 which created CAR only provides for CAR as a temporary region pending the creation of a regional autonomous region. CAR at the moment is in an awkward position or status. All other regions are regular or ordinary except ARMM while CAR is purportedly a region but also an administrative region without the Special Bodies (CEB, CRA, CBA). If and when two provinces ratify favourably a Third Organic Act, definitely we will now have an autonomous region of two provinces. A single province voting favourably an Organic Act per decision of the Supreme Court cannot form a region, i.e. Ifugao in 1990, Apayao in 1998. But in the first scenario, definitely, there is no recourse but to bring back those who will negate an Organic Act to their original or mother regions. All other things will follow, i.e. structures or regional offices and employees will be affected. Again, the Cordillera will be divided. Again minoritization and less prioritization shall ensue.
|
| |
| Definitely, it shall be Congress from where the Organic Act will originate being the legislative body tasked to pass laws in the land. But an aggressive and continued lobby from our part is mandated so that the bulk of what we want in the draft will remain intact. We only have to accept that we are a part of the Philippine archipelago and we are not severing our ties from it. But in our valid argument for self-determination, we should be able to get what we want. It is fortunate on our part to have two Organic Act enacted by Congress. What is required of us is to review said laws, add what we want and strike out what is not applicable to our situation. We must be reminded that whatever features of the Third Organic Act that we, in the Cordillera shall formulate would still be negotiated with the national government through Congress. It is strongly encouraged that we discuss the matter with an open mind and freely express our opinions on how to concretely achieve this Constitutional mandate.
|
| |
| Participate in public consultations (press conferences) Self-education by accessing the RDC Website (www.cordillera.gov.ph) Inquire with the RDC officials and secretariat (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Submit your comments/concerns to the RDC secretariat
|
