MP elders say No to regional autonomy bill

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE - Elder participants to the 4rth congress of MAITUD (Movement for the Advancement of Inter-Tribal Unity and Development) said NO to the government-led regional autonomy pursued in House Bill 5343.           

In their annual gathering here conducted February 23-24, a resolution of elders from Mountain Province forwarded instead genuine regional autonomy inspired by collective and empowered cultural communities to address Cordillera interest.

In their resolution, participants forwarded lessons and aspirations from the Chico Dam struggle in the ‘70s on to 1980s to learn from and advance what genuine autonomy means.

That opposition meant the continued enjoyment of peoples living near the Chico River to their homes and use of their agricultural fields as of now.

Elders honor martyrs  to the Cordillera's struggle for self determination 

Participant elders forwarded that House Bill 5343 and Organic Act on regional autonomy is not the answer to interests of Cordillera people.  

Its only when communities are empowered and self-determining to their political, economic and ancestral domain that genuine autonomy is realized was the main message of said resolution.
Keynote speaker Cordillera elder and leader Thomas  Killip reminded the assembly of the continuity of  good learnings from  community practises to advance collective interests.

Newly elected MAITUD chairperson Alpine Atiwag is emphatic that said autonomy bill does not amend national laws not favorable to Cordillera peoples interests as PD 705.

Atiwag forwarded that PD 705 be repealed or amended to excempt Cordillera and others adversely affected with the law.

Participants expressed their disgruntled frustration on PD 705 not letting them freely harvest timber and other products from their own forests.

A common sentiment is the question: How can there be an autonomous government if these oppressive national laws such as PD 705 are not repealed or amended  that disenfranchises indigenous peoples who live in terrains 18% in slope and over to their very land where most Cordillera people are staying.

PD 705  further provides that “no person may utilize, exploit, occupy, possess or conduct any activity within any forest and grazing land, or establish, install, add and operate any wood or forest products processing plant, unless he had been authorized to do under a license agreement, license, lease or permit.”

PD 705 provides, “no land of the public domain18% in slope or over shall be classified as alienable and disposable, nor any forest land  50% in slope or over, as grazing land.” In effect, occupants thereof cannot  avail of a cutting permit on an untitled forest land.  In Mountain Province for one, offenders are charged with violation of PD 705 by DENR.

Let Congress both in the House of Representatives and Senate repeal oppressive laws then we talk autonomy is the challenge.

If lawmakers do not even consider bills of Cordillera interest what is the guarantee that House Bill 5343 shall answer Cordillera interests and control their natural resources is the question posed by the participants.

CPA Sec Gen Abigail Anongos

As it is, some laws supposedly favorable to the Cordillera has not even been favorably considered in the Senate level. For one, the direct remittance bill seeking to remit directly to local government units their 40 percent share on the collections from national wealth taxes authored by then Baguio congressman Mauricio Domogan has not gotten Senate approval.  

MAITUD Congress speaker Abigail Anongos said genuine regional autonomy is not possible under a government beholden to foreign interests emphasizing self-determining communities define what genuine autonomy means.  

Participants forwarded that the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 is contrary to interests of indigenous peoples rights to their ancestral domains.    

The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 provides for 100% foreign-owned corporations of up to 81,000 hectares for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years. This in spite of the Philippine constitution’s 60-40 rule on Filipino ownership and control on their natural resources.  

The law also grants foreign mining companies easement rights, water rights and timber rights; and a tax exemption for a grace period of 10 years.

MAITUD Chairperson Martin Bagcalang

Where the gold and chromite rich Cordillera is already blanketed with a number of mining applications from foreign mining companies threaten Cordillera communities control to their very own lands and natural resources.  

Participants forwarded that People’s Mining Bill be enacted instead.

Also, said autonomy bill does not even address a united Cordillera region.

MAITUD outgoing chairperson Martin Bagcalang said the government - inspired autonomy is divisive.

HB 5343 provides “only two or more provinces and/or cities voting favorably for the Organic Act in the plebiscite shall comprise the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera while those voting unfavorably for this Organic Act in the plebiscite shall remain within their current region.”

This provision then questions what Cordillera means where provinces who may not favor HB5343 are not included in what is called Cordillera autonomy.

The bill is anti -indigenous and anti -cultural contrary to consensual and collective belonging as the basis for decision making in indigenous communities, Bagcalang said.

The MAITUD resolution forwarded that HB  5343 is about structures, positions in government and a P15 billion budget.