Thursday, August 4, 2011

Igorots “Self-Rule” Still A Far Cry

By Artemio A. Dumlao
BAGUIO CITY (July 22, 2011) – Igorot “self-rule” is still a far-fetched dream among Cordillerans after failing two Organic Acts and now hurdling over another proposal for a third bid at establishing an autonomous region.
Still divided on the issue, most sans informed knowledge of what autonomy is and what it can bring to the mountain region, Cordillerans are still “fighting over” if will they will or will not gear towards it.
Though somewhat clear to proponents of the third Organic Act now being “peddled”, mostly in Baguio City and in town centers, but not yet in interior locations where supposed beneficiaries or “self-rule” are, original proponents insist the situation isn’t ripe. “We have come to realize that it is a futile objective at this time,” said the Cordillera Peoples Alliance which traces the clamor for autonomy dates back in 1986 when President Benigno Aquino III’s mother—Corazon—was President and welcomed a provision at the Constitution to establish an autonomous regional government in the region.
Former Pres. Corazon Aquino in 1987 signed Executive Order 220 creating the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to lay grounds for an autonomous region.
Rejecting though the 1988 and 1991 Organic Acts that sought to establish Regional Autonomy in the Cordillera which CPA said were “bogus”, CPA said “genuine regional autonomy” is not possible at this time because essential changes in Cordillera and Philippine society are not yet in place that would serve the specific interests of Cordillera peoples, as distinct indigenous peoples and as Filipinos, and also the other residents in the region. In both plebiscites, Cordillera remained as an “administrative region” as no sizeable support came from the Cordillera people.
“Forcing Down Throats”
The Regional Development Council which themed this July’s Cordillera Month celebration as: “One Cordillera Towards Autonomy and Regional Development,” still forwards regional autonomy amidst criticisms by several groups that is “being rail-roaded to suit political interests by some politicians.”
Although stressing unity as an overriding principle, there exists a seeming disagreement among Cordillera leaders on the proposed third draft of the Organic Act centering on lack of information drives and grassroots consultations. “I’m for autonomy, but we should not fast track it for political reasons,” said Ifugao rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr., National Cultural Communities committee chairperson in the House of Representatives.
“We should have a more inclusive consultations at the grassroots level and the bill should be drafted in consultation with the church leaders, civil society, sectoral reps and tribal leaders and not just the LGUs or politicians.”
Baguilat Jr. chided, “even the congressmen were not included in the process kaya most of them in CAR are cool to it.”
Lawyer Jose Molintas, a UN-appointed Expert on Indigenous Peoples Instruments said rather than looking forward to a region in terms of structure, “we should include the fundamental aspirations of the right to self-determination as an overarching principle.”
“There must be system change so that Genuine Regional Autonomy can be realized as our assertion of the right to self determination, which is the right to freely determine our political status, and to freely pursue our economic, social and cultural development,” said Igorot Wyndle Bolinget, secretary general of the CPA. Regional Autonomy has a high standard as a form of Self-Determination, Bolinget said, explaining “(not as) a mere bureaucratic decentralization and devolution of powers.”
(Our perspective is) is based on indigenous peoples’ rights and human rights, on the inalienable right to self determination of indigenous peoples, and on regional autonomy as the appropriate application of the right to self determination, Bolinget reitated, as against the present initiative
“that gives general recognition to the history and specific identity of Cordillera indigenous peoples, but is essentially lacking in substantive rights and principles.”
Tagged as “bogus”, is an autonomy that is “largely of structures, positions, and budgetary allocations,” Bolinget insists while further explaining that, (this) is decentralization of functions and devolution of powers much of which already obtained in the regionalized CAR or even in the other regions created by the Local Government Code.”
“Specific Aberrations”
An outright critique on the third attempt, the CPA said, is that it would allow the dismemberment of the Cordillera Region; with the provision of “Article I, Sec 2. (a) The area of the Cordillera Autonomous Region shall consist of the cities and provinces that shall vote favorably in the plebiscite called for the ratification of this Organic Act….” This provision destroys the premise of the Cordillera as ancestral territory of indigenous peoples that they have occupied, defended, and nourished since time immemorial, Bolinget said.
Another specific criticism by the CPA is on Article II, Sec 2.(b), that defines a relationship of subsidiarity between the national and regional governments; where “the national government shall veer away from activities best handled by the autonomous government.” The national government should not just merely veer away; but should categorically not counter or undermine the self determined will and actions of the Cordillera autonomous region, Bolinget forwards.
The CPA believes a major factor in the rejection of the past two organic acts, as well as the seeming “cold” response to the present third attempt, is reportedly the identity and suspected political ambitions of the proponents including the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) and politicians.
President Aquino III should instead junk EO 220 by his mother, Bolinget said, which created CAR “and issue another executive order to allow the continuance of the Cordillera Administrative Region as a regular region, but without the unnecessary and controversial structures and privileged status for a few.”
But proponents still hold their heads high conducting consultations in Baguio City and town centers of the Cordillera. “We should beat the timetable. The final draft of the Third Organic Act must be submitted to Congress before the elections again on 2013 because when election season comes, everyone will be thinking about it again and completely forget our aspiration.”***Artemio A. Dumlao***

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