MORE grassroots consultations on autonomy are pushed by the different gubernatorial candidates in the region.
For over a decade, the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) has been conducting an Information and Education (IEC) campaign on regional autonomy but grassroots consultation remains to be the clamor for the top provincial candidates.
At least five of the candidates running for governor in the province of Benguet agreed on the need to have grassroots consultations during a candidates’ forum at the University of the Cordilleras.
Candidates from Benguet said grassroots consultations should be taken seriously by the government for autonomy to be voted on favorably if plebiscite day comes.
Incumbent Board Member Jack Dulnuan said going to the barrios to explain the concept of autonomy is still the best strategy to gain public support while incumbent Vice-Governor Nelson Dangwa said IEC campaigns on autonomy must continue to cover all sectors.
For Buguias Mayor Melchor Diclas, he said grassroots consultation should make people understand the advantages of an autonomous region together with its disadvantages.
An allotment for IEC funds by provincial governments was suggested by former Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles and likewise encouraged prime movers of autonomy to pledge not to run in the first elections of the regional government that will be created.
Former vice-governor Cresencio Pacalso admitted to have reservations on autonomy saying the RDC as well as provincial representatives will have to ensure provisions reflecting the dreams and aspirations of the communities are not deleted from the draft organic act once it reaches Congress and Senate.
Among the four gubernatorial candidates in Abra, only Retired General Antonio Viernes was able to attend the forum.
Viernes is running against Maria Jocelyn Bernos, Ruby Bersamin, wife of incumbent governor Eustaquio Bersamin and Robert Bustamante.
Viernes said political leaders in the past feared autonomy will render them powerless over their territories which was why past plebiscites failed, due to lack of support.
The former police general said if he wins, he will convince his constituents to support autonomy by organizing community fora.
Other gubernatorial candidates in Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao and Mountain Province were all invited to the forum but declined according to Marissa Cabato, the team leader of the RDC-SPCAR or the Social Preparation of CAR into an Autonomous Region.
The IEC campaigns for autonomy have been rolled out since 2007 in the aim to raise public awareness of all stakeholders for the clamor to realize the constitutional provision and accelerate the socioeconomic development of the region.
RDC is allotting 60 percent of its P15 million annual budget for the IEC campaign.
Cabato said for 2016, they are focusing on grassroots consultation involving barangays, schools, non-government organizations and civic organizations.