FOR AUTONOMY. Former President Fidel Ramos (center), who was the Armed Forces Chief of Staff when the Cordillera Administrative Region was created in 1987, join Cordillera advocates for autonomy during an event in 2018 in Metro Manila. On Monday (April 25, 2022), candidates for different local positions in Cordillera expressed their support for regional autonomy during a candidates forum on Monday in Baguio City. (PNA file photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – Mayoral and gubernatorial candidates in the Cordillera Administrative Region who attended a forum on regional autonomy called "Timek Para iti Otonomiya" (Voice for Autonomy) on Monday expressed support for the region’s continuing quest for autonomy.
Former Baguio mayor and congressman Mauricio Domogan said, “through autonomy, we will be able to manage our resources, develop our place thru the cooperation that we have as Cordillerans domiciled in the Cordillera which is a unifying factor.”
The mayoral bet stressed that the cooperation of the unified people of Cordillera is essential to achieving autonomy.
Domogan also stressed the region's unique culture that is anchored and rooted in deep spirituality. A staunch advocate of autonomy during his years in public office, he said “autonomy is the hope of the Cordillera.”
While he supports giving autonomy to Cordillera, incumbent reelectionist Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, meanwhile, said now is probably not the right time to allow the region to control and manage its own resources.
“It is every local chief executive, local government unit's [dream] to manage its resources but is it the proper time to have it?” Magalong asked.
The mayor said the political maturity of candidates, as well as the circumstances brought by the global pandemic, should first be considered before granting autonomy to the region.
Thomas Tundagui Jr., a candidate for Ifugao governor, said that autonomy will be a gift to the future children in the region who will reap the benefits of being able to decide what is best for themselves and the region.
Other mayoral and gubernatorial candidates who committed to virtually attending the forum failed to do so due to weak internet connection. (PNA)
