All Set for July 10 Autonomy Public Hearing
July 4, 2015
The House of Representatives Committee on Local Government, through its ad hoc committee, is inviting all Baguio residents to a public hearing on House Bill 4649, entitled An Act Creating the Cordillera Autonomous Region, on July 10.
“This is the opportune time for us to be heard on how we want our autonomous government should be,” said ad hoc committee chairman and Baguio Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping Jr.
Rep. Pedro B. Acharon Jr., local government committee chairman, appointed Rep. Aliping to chair the ad hoc committee being one of the authors of the proposal.
All the Cordillera lawmakers authored the bill and have likewise scheduled similar public hearings on the matter which will all be held during this month so it can be passed on second reading before the year ends.
“The timing is just right,” said Rep. Aliping, adding that because the House has already passed its version of the Basic Bangsamoro Law, the autonomous quest of the Cordillera region may also receive similar treatment.
The Baguio public hearing will be held on July 10 at 1 in the afternoon at the City Hall multi-purpose hall with the 52 members of the committee expected to attend, Rep. Aliping added.
The public hearing is with the cooperation of the city government of Baguio, with Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan as co-host to the event.
“We expect both House of Congress will finalize the law by early next year and ready for President Benigno Aquino III’s signing into law before May 2016,” Rep. Aliping stressed.
After Baguio, the ad hoc committee will travel to Apayao province on July 15, where the main celebration of Cordillera Day will be held.
Then it is off to Bangued, Abra on July 22; Bontoc, Mt. Province on July 23; Lagawe, Ifugao on July 24; Tabuk City, Kalinga on July 30; and La Trinidad, Benguet on July 31./Carl C. Taawan
