BENGUET lawmakers have expressed strong opposition on the Senate Bill 2169 that seeks to create the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA).
During Monday’s (April 22) regular session, members of the Provincial Board approved a resolution opposing the bill.
The Provincial Board said “there was no prior genuine consultation conducted to the different Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Indigenous Cultural Communities of the local government unit of Benguet and Baguio City and other sectors that will be governed by SB 2169, thereby depriving the people of their right to be informed of any government actions, programs or policy.”
The resolution added that Senate Bill 2169 contravenes Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (Ipra) of 1997 that provides for the recognition of the rights of IPs of Baguio City and Benguet.
Board Member Florencio Bentrez said the bill totally contradicts the principles of autonomy.
"The title only reflects into entirety, why would we create an authority handling the Provincial Government. What we want is the concept of freedom and LGU inter-cooperation," he said.
Senator Richard Gordon led a public hearing in Baguio City for the proposed bill last January 4.
Cordillera Regional Development Council chair and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan expressed support to the governing council of Blistt, but stressed many provisions in the proposed measure that officials within Blistt disagree.
“There are a lot of provisions on the bill that the different mayors, local government of Blistt, do not agree with. One, we do not like an authority, which is another bureaucracy over and above,” the mayor said.
The Senate Bill 1692 was introduced by Senator Ralph Rector and with Gordon spearheading the public hearing for the creation of a body to develop Baguio City and its neighboring municipalities in Benguet.