The Cordillera marked its 36th-year existence last Saturday, July 15 but the very reason for its creation as an administrative region which is to become Autonomous Region is still nowhere in sight. Just like in so many Cordillera Day events which this time was held in Apayao Province, Cordillera advocates were hoping that a message of support would come from the one residing in Malacanang. Never mind that the president was not able to attend (inclement weather is blamed) if only such words came. But alas, since when did the Cordillera, a region of merely 1.7 million people, was on the radar of Malacanang?
Credit should be given to Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. for trying his best to keep the attendees hopeful for Malacanang’s support for autonomy. As of the moment, Bulut is the Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) chairman and hence it is incumbent for him to carry the burden as the leader of the region. Unfortunately like in past administrations, the present one did not show and is not showing any interest in the region’s quest for Autonomy. Since July 15, 1987, when EO220 was issued by then Pres. Cory Aquino, we were never really taken seriously.
Yes even Pres. Cory by the looks of her actions then never put the Cordillera autonomy on her agenda or should we say she never really took that Mt. Data Sipat seriously. That only reinforced the assumption that the Mt. Data Sipat (peace pact) was just her government’s cosmetics for her appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. Pres. Cory brought a copy of the Mt. Data Sipat and showed this during her speech in front of the UN General Assembly in New York shortly after September 13, 1986, signing as her testament to her government’s concrete move to bring various warring groups to national reconciliation. Of course, she was very much applauded by the world leaders in attendance then. In short, “inusar da laeng nga pag papogi diay meeting da ken da Fr. Balweg ken dadduma nga elders idiay Mt. Data idi Sept. 13, 1986” to borrow the words of one of the very few surviving elders present at that time.
In my opinion only during the time of Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, was autonomy pushed by Malacanang. Unfortunately, while then PFVR was pushing for Cordillera autonomy that time a few of our Cordillera leaders then, bungled that chance. Two identified politicians who never hid their interest to become regional governor were already fighting even before the second plebiscite in March 1998. The result was the second rejection of autonomy by the people. All the succeeding administrations by the looks of their actual actions never had the heart nor the interest in our cause for autonomy.
Cordillera leaders were hoping that Pres. Noynoy Aquino would fulfill the intent of the Mt. Data Sipat, it being a legacy of her mother but on the contrary, it was not in his mind. When Pres. Duterte came into office, many leaders were banking on his political will to make the country shift to a Federal form of government on which the Cordillera autonomy can have a ride. His term, however, passed without any progress both on our autonomy cause and his campaign promise of Federalism.
Then came the new administration of PBBM now in its second year. I was also hoping that something would really happen especially when it was reported that the House of Representatives Committee on Local Government passed the proposed bill for the third Organic Act as early as August last year. Based on the latest reports coming from our Cordillera lawmakers, they are hoping that plenary debates would soon start after the President’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24 which is tomorrow Monday. While I am not that optimistic, (I have been frustrated time and again on this Autonomy issue just like many advocates) I am also keeping my fingers crossed hoping that the pending bill would soon be passed in the lower house. And that we are hoping the Senate will pass its counterpart bill immediately as it is just of local significance and would not invite much scrutiny.
In the first place, we keep on hearing senate members issuing statements of support for Cordillera Autonomy. And if that happens that indeed both the Lower House and the Senate create a miracle by passing the Third Organic without the push from Malacanang, it will be credited to our present 7 lawmakers in the region and their names shall be enshrined in the history of the region. But until then, for me, Cordillera autonomy is still in limbo.
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