By Liza Agoot, PNA

BAGUIO CITY -- Mindanao congressmen expressed support to the Cordillera's regional autonomy bid, just like how congressmen from the north supported the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“Rest assured na kaming taga Mindanao supportive sa inyo, tulad din ng support ng Cordillera congressmen sa BOL,” Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Palma II told Cordillera leaders at the first congressional committee hearing on the region's autonomy bill on Tuesday.

Palma, who is chairman of the House Local Government Sub-committee, presided over the hearing that was attended by some Cordillera leaders, who are apparently elated and thankful.

“We are happy and thankful that the hearing went well with those who attended expressing their support,” Milagros Rimando, co-chairman of the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in Cordillera, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.

Rimando said leaders of the region--governors, mayors, non-government organizations, RDC members, Information Education Campaign speakers, and elders -- were present at the hearing held by the Congress' Committee on Local Government chaired by North Cotabato 1st District Rep. Jesus Sacdalan in Congress.

She said Cabinet heads, who are championing autonomy, had also attended the hearing to show support to the cause.

The House Local Government Sub-committee tackled House Bill 5343, jointly authored by congressmen from Cordillera last year.

“We were all glad that there were many solons who attended and happy that some of them are those who represent districts in Mindanao,” Rimando said, adding that Cordillera congressmen were also there to back the bill.

Rimando said she was surprised by the reception of the congressmen, who, she said, told her that they want to transmit the House version to the Senate by September.

“Nagulat din kami at masaya sa sinabi ni Congressman Manuel Zubiri na matagal na dapat na naipasa ang Cordillera autonomy at gusto nila na by September maipasa na sa Senado ang bill (We were all surprised and happy with the statement of Congressman Zubiri that the Cordillera autonomy should have been long been passed and that they want to transmit the House bill to the Senate by September),” Rimando said.

Noting there were also many congressmen from north Luzon who attended the hearing, she added: “We can see and feel the very strong south and north connection when the congressmen from Mindanao who were present highly endorsed the autonomy. It was very encouraging.”

In a video documentation of the Philippine Information Agency in Cordillera (PIA-CAR), Bukidnon 3rd District Rep. Manuel Zubiri suggested that a timeline be given to the technical working group (TWG), which is composed of the six Cordillera congressmen, for them to finish the report with the inclusion of the amendments and other provisions culled from the BOL as soon as possible.

“This is long overdue,” Zubiri said.

“Perhaps we can approve this in principle, task the TWG to conduct the public hearing, and we don’t have to conduct another committee meeting and we can already produce the committee report," Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo suggested. "For substantial amendment, let us take it up on the floor or the BiCam, just like what we did in the BOL.”

The Cordillera congressmen, in response, obliged.

“We will move as fast as we can,” Baguio Rep. Mark Go said, assuring that next week, when Congress will be in recess, the TWG will hold the meetings and do the committee report with the inclusion of proposed amendments, as well as the draft bill for submission to the plenary.

Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Kalinga Rep. and Mountain Province caretaker Allen Jesse Mangaoang, Abra Rep. Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos, and Apayao Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, all committed to accomplish the task of the TWG in a week.

Rimando, Cordillera's chief economic planner, said the medium-term development goal of the region includes attaining self-determination.

“We are aligned to the advocacy of the RDC’s pursuit for autonomy, we are able to develop responsive policy standards that are suitable to the Cordillera region,” she said.

She said the Cordillera leaders are planning to train municipal speakers in various places in Cordillera on the proposed autonomy.