Kalinga officials urge Marcos to support Cordillera Autonomy Bill

Tabuk City, Kalinga – In time with the celebration of the Cordillera Month, provincial officials of Kalinga penned a resolution addressed to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos requesting his support for the enactment of the Cordillera Regional Autonomy Bill.

The resolution backing the Cordillera Autonomy Bill or House Bill 3627 was adopted on July 2, 2024.

As underscored in the resolution, the enactment of of the bill into law is of significance in addressing the unique needs of the Cordilleran people, specifically ‘on matters of cultural preservation, natural resource management and socio-economic development’ hence, should be given priority.

The Office of the President, the lower, and upper house of Congress shall be given copies of the resolution for appropriate action.

The autonomy bill, to recall, has been filed several times at the Congress, but failed to be passed into law.

Update on Cordillera Autonomy Bill

Baguio Rep. Marquez Go, earlier this year, said that the measure passed the House committees on local governments and ways and means, however, it was put on hold in the appropriation committee due to a position paper crafted by government fiscal managers.

The position paper stated that the proposed measure would only be feasible by 2029 as the current government funding might not be able to provide the 10-year block grant of P75 billion.

What is HB 3267?

House Bill 3267 is the bill refiled in August 2022 by Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang along with Maximo Dalog Jr. of Mountain Province, Menchie Bernos of Abra, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang of Apayao, Mark Go of Baguio City, Eric Yap of Benguet, and Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao before the 19th Congress.

HB 3267 states the proposed law aims ‘to establish an effective political entity, provide for its basic structure of government in recognition of the justness and cause of the people of the Cordillera, their fundamental and constitutional right to self-determination and the faithful pursuit of the duty to protect, conserve and develop their patrimony and cultural heritage in order to secure for themselves and their posterity, the preservation of their identity and posterity, and the attainment of meaningful and effective governance.’

If passed into law, a plebiscite will be held covering Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City not later than six months after the new law takes effect.