By Aaron Recuenco
While all the discussions are currently focused on the autonomous region for the Bangsamoro in Mindanao, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza has committed to pursuing the autonomy for the Cordillera Region.
“I think the next priority for this government is to install the Autonomous Region for the Cordillera,” Jesus Dureza said.
The official made the statement during the 32nd anniversary of “Sipat” or the Mount Data Peace Accord which was the first culture-based peace agreement made in the history of the peace process in the Philippines.
It was done on September 13, 1986 between the Philippine government under President Corazon Aquino and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) led by Fr. Conrado Balweg.
In a statement, Dureza commended the local leaders of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for working as one to attain autonomy.
Those who were fragmented before are now united. And I saw convergence of your political leaders. We should not squander this opportunity,” Dureza said.
It’s not just the Bangsamoro that should have an autonomous region. The Constitution provides both for the Bangsamoro and the Cordillera,” he added.
Part of the move for autonomy in the Cordillera, according to Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Adelino Sitoy, are bills filed in Congress that seek to establish the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC).
“The PLLO will pledge to exert all efforts in lobbying for the inclusion of Cordillera Autonomy Bill in the President’s legislative agenda and common legislative agenda,” Sitoy said.
Four identical versions of the proposed measure are now pending before the Senate and the House of Representatives.
House Bill 5343, which was authored by Cordilleran legislators, is now set to undergo deliberations in the House committee on local government. Serving as the counterpart of the House legislation, three Senate Bills — tagged as SB 1678, SB 1923, and SB 1930 — were filed by Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, JV Ejercito, and Bam Aquino, respectively.
In his message of support, former President Fidel V. Ramos, who was present in the 1986 signing of the Mount Data Peace Accord, urged everyone to help the present administration to attain peace and justice, relating it to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
“Let us help him (President Rodrigo Duterte) finish the transformation of the Philippines,” Ramos said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/09/15/dureza-committed-to-pursuing-autonomy-for-cordillera-region/
While all the discussions are currently focused on the autonomous region for the Bangsamoro in Mindanao, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza has committed to pursuing the autonomy for the Cordillera Region.
“I think the next priority for this government is to install the Autonomous Region for the Cordillera,” Jesus Dureza said.
The official made the statement during the 32nd anniversary of “Sipat” or the Mount Data Peace Accord which was the first culture-based peace agreement made in the history of the peace process in the Philippines.
It was done on September 13, 1986 between the Philippine government under President Corazon Aquino and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) led by Fr. Conrado Balweg.
In a statement, Dureza commended the local leaders of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for working as one to attain autonomy.
Those who were fragmented before are now united. And I saw convergence of your political leaders. We should not squander this opportunity,” Dureza said.
It’s not just the Bangsamoro that should have an autonomous region. The Constitution provides both for the Bangsamoro and the Cordillera,” he added.
Part of the move for autonomy in the Cordillera, according to Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Adelino Sitoy, are bills filed in Congress that seek to establish the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC).
“The PLLO will pledge to exert all efforts in lobbying for the inclusion of Cordillera Autonomy Bill in the President’s legislative agenda and common legislative agenda,” Sitoy said.
Four identical versions of the proposed measure are now pending before the Senate and the House of Representatives.
House Bill 5343, which was authored by Cordilleran legislators, is now set to undergo deliberations in the House committee on local government. Serving as the counterpart of the House legislation, three Senate Bills — tagged as SB 1678, SB 1923, and SB 1930 — were filed by Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, JV Ejercito, and Bam Aquino, respectively.
In his message of support, former President Fidel V. Ramos, who was present in the 1986 signing of the Mount Data Peace Accord, urged everyone to help the present administration to attain peace and justice, relating it to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
“Let us help him (President Rodrigo Duterte) finish the transformation of the Philippines,” Ramos said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/09/15/dureza-committed-to-pursuing-autonomy-for-cordillera-region/
