BAGUIO CITY, July 13 (PNA) — On July 27, President Benigno Aquino III will deliver his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he is expected to highlight the accomplishments of his administration.
Allies and critics alike are expecting the President to end speculation once and for all by declaring the administration’s candidates for the two highest positions in the country for next year’s elections.
But for Baguio City Representative Nicasio M. Aliping Jr. of the Liberal Party, no other declaration would be sweetest should the President make a pronouncement supporting the third attempt for the Cordillera Region to establish an autonomous government.
This as House Bill 4649, or the Act Establishing the Cordillera Autonomous Region, is still in the committee on Local Government of the House of Representatives undergoing public hearings especially in the six provinces and two cities of the Cordillera.
“I hope the President will say that HB 4649 will be a priority measure which Congress should act on before May 2016,” Aliping said after delivering his accomplishment report at the Kapihan Sa Baguio forum today, July 13.
“We hope the President will mention Cordillera autonomy in his last SONA, so that the passage of the measure can be passed before the end of the year and ready for his signing into law by early next year,” he added.
Aliping said this after noting that the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the House have been positive for the Cordillera cause because it again put light to the quest for autonomy in this part of the country.
“The Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) deliberations gave the lawmakers in the House enough composure to likewise support HB 4649 and give the Cordillera equal treatment as far as the quest for self-rule is concerned,” Aliping stressed.
“I hope our fellow Cordillerans would not become jealous of the huge amount being given to the BBL, what is important is that the Cordillera region will also get a sizable amount to jumpstart or development,” he added.
House Bill 4649 is asking for PhP30 billion for the first five years of operation and additional PhP10 billion every year for the following five years which is apart from the internal revenue allotment each local government unit already receives.
“But if the President will not make the pronouncement, it is still okay because we are still on track in our autonomy public hearings and with the scheduled plenary discussions in the House to occur after Congress reconvenes after the SONA,” Aliping said.
He added that even if the autonomy bill will not be passed by this Congress, there is nothing stopping the region from refiling the measure in the 17th Congress.
“Nothing can stop us!” he said, adding, “It is provided for in the Constitution.” (PNA)