Autonomy is a gift to Cordillera youth says Domogan
Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan underscored that the eventual establishment of the autonomous region in the Cordillera will be the gift of the elders and leaders to the youth who will be the ones to reap the fruits of self-governance and genuine development.
In his message during the kick off program of the 38th founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) held last July 1, 2025 at the Baguio Convention Center, Domogan said that one of the priority bills that he intends to file within his first 100 days in office is the proposed autonomy law with the support of fellow Cordillera congressmen and other lawmakers who support the region’s clamor for self-rule.
He reiterated that the autonomy bill that will be filed will not affect or diminish the present powers and benefits being enjoyed by the region under the present special temporary administrative set up bit will instead increase the same aside from allowing the autonomous regional government to formulate policies, programs and activities that are suitable to the prevailing conditions unlike in the present set up where all initiatives emanate from the central government even if it is not feasible to be implemented in the Cordillera.
The returning congressman pointed out that Cordillera elders and leaders will be remiss in their duty to provide the future generations with a better set up of government with the establishment of the autonomous region if they will not unite and aggressively work for its realization as the same is already long overdue.
According to him, he will personally make the appropriate representation with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who earlier committed his support to the region’s clamor for autonomy when he was a member of the House and a senator, to push for the provision of funds that will sustain the operation of the autonomous region as he does not buy the idea of the national government that it cannot support the requested funds for the autonomous region.
Domogan also argued that the contention that a third Organic Act might have legal impediments because current jurisprudence provides that there will be no hindrance to the said initiative until such time that Congress shall have passed an autonomy law acceptable to the people of the region.
He asserted that elders and leaders should be passionate in supporting the region’s quest for autonomy because it will be the future of the youth that will be at stake and he does not want future leaders to put the blame on the present ones for not doing their duty to fight for what is right for the region.Section 15, Article 10 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the establishment of autonomous regions in the Cordillera and Muslim Mindanao.
The lawmaker stipulated that lawmakers from Mindanao have expressed their support to the passage of the Cordillera autonomy bill long ago because they want to return the compliment in recognition of the support of the Cordillera congressmen to the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law that resulted to the enhancement of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). – Dexter A. See
