FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'12 
FEB -1 
:;11:S0 
SENATE 
S. No.f 3115 
Introduced by Sen. Aquilino "Koko" L. Pimentel III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article X, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides 
for the creation of the autonomous regions of Muslim 
Mindanao and in the Cordilleras consisting of provinces, 
cities, municipalities and geographical areas sharing 
common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, 
economic and social structures and other relevant 
characteristics within the framework of the Constitution, 
the national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the 
country, 
Fulfilling 
this 
constitutional 
mandate, 
Congress 
passed Republic Act 6734 creating the Autonomous Region 
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), 
In the case of the Cordilleras, Executive Order No. 220 
organized the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) 
thereby mandating CAR to ensure that the region's 
economic growth strategy will result to improved quality of 
life and sustainable total human development of all 
Cordillerans. 
.1 
Pursuant to the Regional Development Plan for 2011-
2016 drafted by the National Economic Development 
Authority - Cordillera Administrative Region (NEDA-CAR),I 
regional autonomy is seen as the most effective option to 


provide CAR the needed solid foundation to pursue' 
sustainable development as it hopes to address lingering 
issues on the management and use of its natural resources 
and how the region should benefit from it. Attaining 
regional autonomy in the Cordilleras will also bring to the 
national attention the benefits of promoting and accepting 
cultural diversity through the formulation of multi-cultural 
policies for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Indigenous 
Cultural Communities (ICCs) as the traditional uniform 
application of national norms and standards do not apply 
well to the Cordilleras. 
Towards this end, it is imperative and timely therefore, 
that Congress enacts an Organic Act for the creation of the 
Cordillera Autonomous Region. 
With the foregoing considered, the approval of this Bill 
is earnestly requested. 
'" . f\) ~~..A s;: 
AQU(L~ "JOKO" L. PIMENTEL III 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
'12 m -1 
iiJl :)0 
________ 
S_._N_O_._3_1_1_5 _____ 
!{_fi 
.. ,_. '"_' _. _f':Y~ 
Introduced by Sen. Aquilino "Koko" L. Pimentel III 
1 
2 
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE CORDILLERA AUTONOMOUS 
3 
REGION 
4 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
5 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
6 
PREAMBLE 
7 
We, 
the Cordillerans, imploring the Aid 
of Divine 
8 
Providence, exercising our fundamental and Constitutional 
9 
right to self-determination, 
faithful to the pursuit of our' 
10 
forebears 
for the defense, protection, 
conservation and 
11 
development of our patrimony and cultural heritage, in order to 
12 
secure for ourselves and our posterity a region of peace and 
13 
prosperity founded on truth, freedom, justice, love and human 
14 
solidarity through a Regional Autonomous Government that 
15 
shall ensure our human rights, our human development, and 
16 
our active participation as citizens in the affairs of a united 
17 
Philippine State,. do proclaim this Charter of the Cordillera 
18 
Autonomous Region. 
19 
20 
ARTICLE I 
21 
THE AUTONOMOUS REGION, TERRITORY AND' PEOPLE 
22 
23 
Section 1. There is hereby established an autonomous region 
24 
in the Cordilleras to be known as the "Cordillera Autonomous 
25 
Region (CAR)". 
26 
27 
Section 2. 
The area of the Cordillera Autonomous Region 
. 28 
shall consist of the cities and provinces that shall vote 
29 
favorably in the plebiscite called for the ratification of this 
30 
Organic Act pursuant to Section 18, Article X of the 
31 
Constitution. 
32 
33 
Section 3. The term Cordilleran shall apply to all citizens of 
34 
the Philippines who are domiciled within the territory of the 
35 
Cordillera Autonomous Region. 


1 
ARTICLE II 
2 
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES 
3 
4 
Section 4. 
The Cordillera Autonomous Region is an 
5 
integral and inseparable territorial and political subdivision 
6 
of the Philippines. 
7 
The Cordillerans, as citizens of the Philippines, shall 
8 
uphold the Constitution as the fundamental law of the land 
9 
and unequivocally owe allegiance and fidelity to the 
10 
Republic. 
11 
National government officials and employees, agencies 
12 
or instrumentalities are bound by the Constitution and 
13 
national laws, to recognize and respect the rights of the 
14 
Cordillerans as citizens of the Philippines, and the 
15 
autonomy of the region. 
16 
17 
Section 5. 
The success of the Cordillera Autonomous 
18 
Region is lodged both on the determination of its people to 
19 
pursue and maintain regional autonomy and the genuine 
20 
and complete devolution of powers and functions by the 
21 
national government, including assets, finances, and other 
22 
resources, to the regional autonomous government. 
23 
(a) 
The national government shall provide financial 
24 
support and assistance to the Cordillera Autonomous 
25 
Region by appropriating such sums as may be 
26 
necessary to accelerate the development of the 
27 
autonomous region, on top of and aside from the 
28 
Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) provided therewith 
29 
and the Local Government Units as well as the 
30 
allocations already provided through the regional line 
31 
agencIes. 
32 
(b) 
The national government shall consult and 
33 
coordinate with the autonomous Regional Government 
34 
before programs and projects are undertaken in the 
35 
autonomous region. 
36 
Section 6. The local government units shall continue to be 
37 
independent from each other, enjoy autonomy and shall 
38 
continue to exercise the powers granted them under the 
39 
Local Government Code and other existing laws, but may 
40 
enter into joint ventures beneficial to them. 
2 


1 
2 
Section 7.The Regional Government and its constituent 
3 
units shall promote partnership to accelerate regional 
4 
development. 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
Section 8. 
The Cordillerans shall uphold the State 
principle that all government authority emanates from the 
people. Thus, Cordillerans anchor their Identity on their 
common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, 
economic and social structures, and other relevant 
characteristics particular to themselves as Cordillerans. 
Development shall take into consideration the local culture 
(customs, 
traditions 
and 
technologies) 
as 
well 
as 
adaptation to recent cultural influences which may be 
beneficial to them. 
Wherever applicable, and whenever it is useful, 
without contravening morals and public policies, local 
indigenous customary laws, traditions, practices and 
institutions are hereby recognized and may be availed of by 
appropriate parties. 
Section 
9. 
The 
protection, 
dynamic conservation, 
sustainable 
management 
and 
utilization 
of natural 
resources and environment of the region and provision for 
basic human needs and decent standard of living for its 
people shall be an essential dimension of regional 
development. 
(a) 
The exploration, development and utilization of 
the region's natural resources shall be consistent with 
the principles of sustainable development management 
systems and practices. 
(b) 
The Cordillerans shall have prior and preferential 
right to the natural, material, and fiscal resources of 
the region. 
(c) 
Following the Indigenous Peoples Right Act (IPRA) 
law, the Regional Government shall ensure for the 
Cordillerans the right to secure for themselves their 
ancestral lands and domains, develop their economy, 
protect and promote their cultural heritage, their right 
to equitable shares and benefits from the use and 
development of the natural resources within their 
domains, 
and 
to 
establish 
a 
system 
of 
self-
3 
! 
" 


1 
governancethat will promote both their common good 
2 
and development. Likewise, the Cordillera Autonomous 
3 
Region 
shall 
recognize 
and 
adopt 
the 
use 
of 
4 
environment-friendly 
and 
sustainable 
indigenous 
5 
knowledge systems and practices in the management 
6 
of natural resources. 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
(d) 
The Cordillera Autonomous Region shall adopt a 
balanced, 
sustainable 
economic 
growth 
and 
development supported by appropriate researches for 
the benefit and advantage of the Cordillerans. 
12 
Section 10. 
The Cordillera Autonomous Region shall 
13 
pursue a policy of coordination and cooperation, especially 
14 
its 
neighbouring 
Northern 
Luzon 
Regions, 
in 
its 
15 
development efforts taking into account the conservation 
16 
and protection of the natural environment as an essential 
17 
dimension 
of regional 
development. 
The 
Regional 
18 
Government shall consider as paramount ecological 
19 
balance, mutual development interests, a balanced and 
20 
sustainable economic growth, and the peoples' right to self-
21 
determination 
in 
cooperative 
economic 
development 
22 
undertakings with the other regions. 
23 
24 
Section 11. The common good, general welfare and social 
25 
justice require equal access to resources, employment, and 
26 
services by all Cordillerans, ethnic, social, and economic 
27 
sectors and the adoption of measures for the democratic 
28 
sharing of wealth, power and opportunities without 
29 
distinction based on ethnic origin, gender, language, 
30 
political conviction, economic and social status or religious 
31 
belief. The Regional Government shall: 
32 
(a) 
Adopt measures to alleviate the people from 
33 
poverty, generate employment and develop a self-
34 
reliant economy. 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
(b) 
Adopt 
policies 
necessary 
to 
minimize 
the 
disparities between the rich and the poor among rural 
and urban areas and among territorial subdivisions, to 
ensure access to essential services, employment and 
other opportunities and 
sharing of wealth and 
resources and for these purposes, it shall formulate 
programs for the optimal and judicious use and 
development of the resources within the region's 
component provinces and cities and implement these 
4 
.! 
.! 


1 
after due consultation in accordance with applicable 
2 
national laws and this Organic Act; 
3 
(c) 
Ensure consumer protection. 
4 
(d) 
Promote and harmonize the interests of both labor 
5 
and capital, while protecting their respective right. 
6 
(e) 
Ensure that women and men enjoy equality before 
7 
the law, and shall, in particular, prevent gender 
8 
discrimination 
in 
the 
practice 
of 
profession, 
9 
employment opportunities or promotion. 
10 
11 
Section 12. The Cordillerans are entitled to active, free 
12 
and meaningful participation in, contribution to, and 
13 
enjoyment of development in which human rights and 
14 
fundamental freedoms can be realized. 
15 
It is the primary duty of the Regional Government to 
16 
promote, ensure and protect the basic individual and 
17 
collective rights of its constituents and the general welfare 
18 
of all people as enshrined in the Constitution and this 
19 
Organic Act. 
20 
(a) 
Cordillerans have the right, especially through 
21 
their community and organizations, such as but not 
22 
limited to movements and traditional and customary 
23 
aggrupations, 
to 
participate 
and 
be 
equitably 
24 
represented at appropriate levels of social, economic, 
25 
and political decision-making and be consulted as 
! 
26 
stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of 
27 
local, regional, and national priorities, plans, programs 
28 
and projects that affect the Cordilleran's general 
29 
welfare, 
and 
to 
monitor 
their 
successful 
30 
implementation. 
31 
(b) 
The Regional Government shall recognize the role 
32 
of private sector organizations, such as, but not 
33 
limited to movements and traditional and customary 
34 
aggrupations, 
to 
initiate 
the 
monitoring 
and 
35 
investigation of fund utilization, work contracts and 
36 
project implementation, and the filing of charges for 
37 
irregularities. 
38 
(c) 
The Regional Government shall pursue a policy of 
39 
holding prior consultation or public hearings on 
40 
matters of national and regional priorities, plans and 
41 
programs 
as 
well 
as 
transparency 
m 
the 
5 


1 
implementation of projects affecting the constituents of 
2 
the local government units concerned. 
3 
(d) 
The 
Regional 
Government 
shall 
encourage 
4 
participation by ensuring that the people have access 
5 
to development processes, institutions, information 
6 
and redress or complaint mechanisms. The Regional 
7 
Government shall give preference to strategies for 
8 
empowerment for its people to have the power, 
9 
capacities and access needed to improve their lives, 
10 
their communities and direct their own destinies. 
11 
12 
Section 13. The Cordillera Autonomous Region recognizes 
13 
that the home is the cradle of the holistic development of 
14 
and the primary agent of education for the Cordillera 
15 
youth. The Regional Government shall: 
16 
(a) 
Promote family-centered values that nurture the 
17 
development of the young; 
18 
(b) 
Guarantee the youth's effective participation and 
19 
representation in public affairs; 
20 
(c) 
Enact laws and adopt measures necessary to 
21 
protect children against all forms of neglect, cruelty, 
22 
and exploitation harmful to their moral, physical, or 
23 
mental health, in all circumstances and settings. 
24 
25 
Section 14. 
The Cordillera Autonomous Region shall 
26 
establish, within the framework of the national system of 
27 
education as defined in the Constitution and national laws, 
28 
accessible and affordable educational system, both formal 
29 
and non-formal, that: 
30 
(a) 
Inculcates respect for human rights and the 
31 
dignity of work. 
32 
(b) 
Respects and promotes indigenous culture and 
33 
practices. 
34 
(c) 
Encourages use of indigenous languages and 
35 
methods of education. 
36 
37 
38 
(d) 
(e) 
(f) 
Encourages creativity and critical thinking. 
Promotes science and appropriate technology. 
Responds to the needs of Cordillera communities. 
6 
, 


1 
Section 15. State colleges and universities in the region 
2 
shall provide relevant researches and assistance to the 
3 
development of the region. 
4 
5 
Section 16. Consistent with the Constitution and national 
6 
laws, the Regional Government shall: 
7 
(a) 
Provide incentives to investors, corporations and 
8 
businesses but shall adopt measures to prevent the 
9 
abuse of natural and human resources; 
10 
(b) 
Ensure that such activities contribute to the 
11 
development of wealth and equitable sharing of 
12 
revenues with the host communities and local 
13 
government units; 
14 
(c) 
Review all forms of foreign aid, loans and special 
15 
projects 
to 
safeguard 
autonomy 
and 
enhance 
16 
development; 
17 
(d) 
Set rules and guidelines for energy production, 
18 
public transportation and communication; 
19 
(e) 
Prohibit 
the 
development, 
storage, 
use 
or 
20 
transport of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons 
21 
within the region. 
22 
23 
Section 17. The Cordillerans aspire for peace founded on 
24 
democracy, justice, righteousness, and respect to the 
25 
dignity of human life. The promotion of peace shall include 
26 
the renunciation of all forms of lawlessness, violence, 
27 
cruelty, vengeance, and discrimination and the application 
28 
of customary system and indigenous practices, cultural 
! 
29 
traditions that promote peace, conflict avoidance and 
" 
30 
resolution. 
31 
32 
Section 18. Civilian authority shall remain supreme at all 
33 
times for the protection of the freedom of the people and for 
34 
the promotion of their safety and welfare. 
35 
36 
Section 19. The right of Indigenous Peoples to use their 
37 
own commonly accepted justice systems, conflict resolution 
38 
institutions, peace-building processes or mechanisms and 
39 
other customary laws and practices, within their respective 
40 
jurisdictions, shall be respected. 
7 


1 
Except under a state of emergency, no active military 
2 
personnel shall be appointed or designated to any public 
3 
position 
which 
is 
civilian 
in 
character, 
including 
4 
government-owned or controlled corporations or any of 
5 
their 
subsidiaries 
under 
control, 
supervisIOn 
and 
6 
management of the Cordillera Autonomous Region. 
7 
8 
Section 20. 
In the administration of the affairs of the 
9 
Cordillera Autonomous Region, the Regional Government 
10 
shall, at all times, adopt and espouse the principles of 
11 
integrity, transparency, accountability and democracy: 
12 
(a) 
Decision-making and all transactions involving 
13 
public interest shall be subject to full disclosure at 
14 
every stage, to foster confidence in the integrity and 
15 
honesty of the leadership, except those affecting 
16 
national and regional security; 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
(b) 
The responsible use of power by the leadership 
and the institutions of the Regional Government for 
the advancement of the general welfare requires that 
those who hold positions of public trust shall, at all 
times, account for their performance to the public; and 
22 
(c) 
Effective 
accountability 
requires 
appropriate 
23 
external feedback and should be linked to appropriate 
24 
incentive and penalty system. 
25 
26 
Section 21. 
The Regional Government shall institute 
27 
measures to promote courtesy, impartiality and integrity in 
28 
public service and to eradicate nepotism, favoritism, graft 
29 
and corruption, red tape and waste. 
30 
31 
Section 22. 
The Regional Government shall take 
32 
measures to prevent torture, other cruel, inhuman, and 
33 
degrading treatment or punishment, and illegal detention 
34 
and extra-judicial executions. 
35 
36 
Section 23. 
Subject to the Constitution and national 
37 
policies, 
the 
Regional 
Government 
shall 
pursue 
38 
reconciliation 
efforts 
and 
promote 
peace 
and 
39 
demilitarization in the region. 
8 


1 
ARTICLE III 
2 
THE CORDILLERA AUTONOMOUS REGION 
3 
4 
Section 24. The territorial and political subdivisions of the 
5 
Cordillera Autonomous Region are the provinces, cities, 
6 
municipalities and barangays where applicable. 
7 
8 
Section 25. The Regional Government shall exercise 
9 
powers and functions necessary for the proper governance 
10 
and development of the region consistent with the declared 
11 
constitutional 
policy 
on 
local 
autonomy 
and 
12 
decentralization: Provided, that nothing in this Act shall be 
13 
construed as to authorize the diminution of the powers, 
14 
functions, 
and 
benefits 
already 
enjoyed 
by 
local 
15 
government units, regional line agencies, and offices. 
16 
The Regional Government shall undertake measures to 
17 
strengthen the autonomy of the component government 
18 
units and to accelerate the economic and social growth and 
19 
development of the units in the region. 
20 
21 
Section 26. The President of the Philippines shall exercise 
22 
general 
supervlslOn 
over 
the 
regional 
autonomous 
23 
government and its local government units through the 
24 
Regional Governor to ensure that laws are faithfully 
25 
executed within the scope of their prescribed powers and 
26 
functions. 
27 
28 
Section 27. The Regional Government may exerCise the 
29 
power of eminent domain. 
30 
31 
Section 28. 
The Cordillera autonomous region is a 
32 
corporate entity with jurisdiction in all matters devolved to 
33 
it by the Constitution and this Organic Act as herein 
34 
enumerated: 
35 
(a) 
Administrative organization. 
36 
(b) 
Creation of sources of revenues. 
37 
38 
(c) 
Ancestral 
domain, 
environment. 
natural 
resources 
and 
39 
(d) 
Personal, family and property relations. 
9 
i 
'. 


1 
(e) 
Regional 
urban 
and 
rural 
planning 
and 
2 
development. 
3 
(f) 
Economic, social and tourism development. 
4 
(g) 
Educational policies. 
5 
(h) 
Preservation, safeguarding and development of the 
6 
cultural heritage. 
7 
(i) 
Patents, trademark, trade names, and copyrights. 
8 
m Such other matters as may be authorized by law 
9 
for the promotion of the general welfare of the people 
10 
of the region, except: 
11 
1. Foreign affairs 
12 
2. National defense and security 
13 
3. Postal service 
14 
4. Coinage, and fiscal and monetary policies 
15 
5. Administration of justice 
16 
6. Quarantine 
17 
7. Customs and tariff 
18 
8. Citizenship 
19 
9. Naturalization, immigration and deportation 
20 
10. General auditing, civil service and elections 
21 
11. Foreign trade 
22 
12. Statistical and civil registration services 
23 
24 
ARTICLE III-A 
25 
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE REGIONAL AUTONOMOUS 
26 
GOVERNMENT WITH THE REGIONAL LINE AGENCIES 
27 
28 
Section 29. 
Regional line agencies and offices in the 
29 
Cordillera Autonomous Region shall continue to exist, 
30 
retain their mandated authorities without diminution and 
31 
perform their functions corresponding to the following 
32 
conditions: 
33 
(a) 
Regional Line Agencies and offices shall, m 
34 
addition to their regular tasks and functions, 
35 
perform those devolved by the Constitution to 
36 
autonomous regions as enumerated in Section 28 of 
37 
this Organic Act; 
10 
.! 


1 
(b) 
The Regional Governor shall exercise control and 
2 
supervision over regional line agencies and offices in 
3 
the region, and shall represent the same; 
4 
(c) 
Regional line agency officials and employees shall 
5 
continue to be nationally paid. There shall be no 
6 
diminution of their compensation and other benefits 
7 
due its officials and employees; 
8 
9 
10 
11 
(d) 
Existing assets and properties of the regional line 
agencies and offices shall remain under their 
custody and accountability. 
12 
Section 30. 
Civil Service officials and employees of the 
13 
regional line agencies and offices in the region shall not be 
14 
laid off, dismissed or removed as a 
result of any 
15 
reorganization attendant to the establishment of the 
16 
Cordillera Autonomous Region, except for a just cause and 
17 
after due process. 
18 
19 
Section 31. 
Civil service officials and employees of the 
20 
regional autonomous government and the regional line 
21 
agencies in the autonomous region shall be hired in 
22 
accordance with appropriate Civil Service rules and 
23 
regulations, but preference shall be accorded to qualified 
24 
Cordillerans. 
25 
26 
Section 32. 
Filling up of vacant Regional Director and 
27 
Assistant Regional Director positions of regional line 
28 
agencies and offices in the autonomous region shall follow 
29 
the existing screening procedure of the concerned agency 
30 
or office and the guidelines provided by the Career 
31 
Executive Service Board (CESB). The Regional Governor 
32 
shall recommend a minimum of three (3) applicants from 
33 
those who applied and who were screened from whom the 
34 
President shall select and appoint. 
Regional Directors 
35 
posted in the autonomous region shall be as equally 
36 
qualified like those assigned in other regionsfor promotion 
37 
to higher positions in the various departments, line 
38 
agencies and offices of the national government. 
39 
40 
Section 33. 
Regional line agencies and offices shall 
41 
prepare their respective budgets separate and distinct from 
42 
the budget of the Regional Government. 
Their budgets 
11 
.! 
, 
" 


1 
shall however be attached and form part of the budget of 
2 
the Regional Government when presented to Congress to 
3 
ensure that plans and priorities of the autonomous region 
4 
are harmonized and properly considered in the budgeting 
5 
processes. 
6 
7 
Section 34. The autonomous region may, upon authority 
8 
of the Regional Assembly, avail of Official Development 
9 
Assistance 
(ODA)-funded 
projects 
and 
other 
foreign 
10 
financial grants or donations and shall undertake these 
11 
projects through the regional line agencies, government-
12 
owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state colleges 
13 
and universities, local government units or whichever is 
14 
deemed appropriate. 
15 
16 
Section 
35. 
Government 
Owned 
and 
Controlled 
17 
Corporations (GOCCs) shall continue to be governed by 
18 
their respective charters and other pertinent laws. 
19 
20 
Section 36. The Government Service Insurance System 
21 
(GSIS), 
the 
Social 
Security 
System 
(SSS), 
the 
22 
Pagtutulungan-Ikaw, 
Bangkolndustriya'tGobyerno 
23 
(PAGIBIG) and other funds of similar trust or fiduciary 
24 
nature shall be exempted from the coverage of this Organic 
25 
Act. 
26 
27 
ARTICLE III-B 
28 
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE REGIONAL AUTONOMOUS 
29 
GOVERNMENT 
30 
WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS 
31 
32 
Section 37. 
The local government units shall have the 
33 
same set of local officials and employees and shall enjoy 
34 
autonomy and continue to exercise the powers granted 
35 
them under the Local Government Code and other existing 
36 
laws. 
Nothing herein provided shall be construed in any 
37 
manner as to diminish the powers and functions as well as 
38 
benefits and privileges already being enjoyed by the local 
39 
government units. The Local Government Code shall apply 
40 
to all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the 
41 
autonomous region. 
12 


1 
Section 38. 
Consistent with the basic policy on local 
2 
autonomy, the President, through the Regional Governor 
3 
shall exercise direct supervision over local government 
4 
units in the autonomous region to ensure that their acts 
5 
are within the scope of their prescribed powers and 
6 
functions. 
7 
8 
Section 39. Revenues, taxes, fees and charges generated 
9 
by 
the 
local 
government 
units 
and 
the 
regional 
10 
autonomous government from their respective local tax 
11 
ordinances shall exclusively accrue to them. 
12 
13 
Section 40. 
The 
local government units in the 
14 
autonomous region, including the Regional Government, 
15 
shall have a just share in the national taxes which shall be 
16 
automatically released to them. 
17 
18 
Section 41. 
The 
local government units in the 
19 
autonomous region including the Regional Government 
20 
unit shall be entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds 
21 
of the utilization and development of the national wealth 
22 
within their respective areas, in the manner provided by 
23 
law and this Organic Act. Provided, that the Regional 
24 
Government unit shall have a share of forty percent (40%) 
25 
taken 
from 
the 
percentage 
share 
of the 
National 
26 
Government from the utilization of national wealth within 
27 
the autonomous region. 
28 
29 
Section 42. Any chartered city within the autonomous 
30 
region shall be governed primarily by its charter. 
31 
32 
Section 43. 
Special metropolitan political subdivisions 
33 
may, by law, be created by the Regional Assembly, subject 
34 
to a plebiscite. The component cities and municipalities 
35 
shall retain their basic autonomy and shall be entitled to 
36 
their own local executive and legislative bodies. The 
37 
jurisdiction of the metropolitan authority that will thereby 
38 
be created shall be limited to basic services requiring 
39 
coordination. 
13 


1 
Section 44. 
The 
local government units in the 
2 
autonomous region may group themselves, consolidate or 
3 
coordinate their efforts, 
services, and resources for 
4 
purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance with 
5 
law. 
6 
7 
ARTICLE IV 
8 
ELECTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE AUTONOMOUS 
9 
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT - THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, 
10 
TERMS OF OFFICE, VACANCIES AND SUCCESSION 
11 
12 
Section 45. 
The elective officials of the Cordillera 
13 
Autonomous Region are the (a) Regional Governor, (b) 
14 
Regional Vice-Governor, and (c) Members of the Regional 
15 
Assembly. 
16 
17 
Section 46. Qualifications. 
18 
(a) 
Candidates for Regional Governor and Vice-
19 
Governor positions must be a citizen of the Philippines 
20 
and a Cordilleran, at least twenty-five (25) years of age 
21 
on election day, a registered voter in the region and 
22 
domiciled thereof for a 
period of five 
(5) years 
23 
immediately preceding the day of election, able to read 
24 
and write Filipino or any other local language or 
25 
dialect in the region. 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
(b) 
Candidates for the position of Member of the 
Regional Assembly must be a citizen of the Philippines 
and a Cordilleran, at least twenty-five (25) years of age 
on election day, a registered voter in the region and 
domiciled thereof for a period of two (2) years 
immediately preceding the day of election, able to read 
and write Filipino or any other local language or 
dialect in the region. 
35 
Section 
47. 
Disqualifications. 
In 
addition 
to 
the 
36 
disqualifications provided under Book I, Title Two, Chapter 
37 
1, Section 40 of the Local Government Code, candidates for 
38 
Regional Governor, Vice-Governor and members of the 
39 
Regional Assembly must not be related to the incumbent 
40 
Regional Governor within the 4th degree of consanguinity 
41 
or affinity. 
14 
.1 


1 
Section 48. Manner of Election. 
2 
(a) 
The Regional Governor and Vice-Governor shall be 
3 
elected at large by direct vote of the registered voters of 
4 
the Cordillera Autonomous Region. 
5 
(b) 
Each province and city shall elect their own 
6 
representatives 
to 
the 
Regional 
Assembly. 
Any 
7 
chartered city in the autonomous region is entitled to 
8 
two (2) representatives to the Regional Assembly. Any 
9 
component 
city 
shall 
be 
entitled 
to 
one 
(1) 
10 
representative. Each province shall be entitled to a 
11 
maximum of two (2) representatives, one (1) per 
12 
district. 
Provided, 
that any political subdivision 
13 
created after the effectivity of this Organic Act shall be 
14 
entitled to representation to the Regional Assembly as 
15 
may be provided by law. 
16 
(c) 
Unless otherwise provided, the regular election of 
17 
the Regional Governor, Vice-Governor, and members of 
18 
the Regional Assembly shall be held on the second 
19 
Monday of May. 
20 
21 
Section 49. Term of Office 
22 
(a) 
The term of office of all elective regional officials 
23 
elected after the effectivity of this Organic Act shall be 
24 
three (3) years which shall begin at noon on the 
25 
thirtieth (30th) day of June next following the day of 
26 
election and shall end at noon of the same date three 
27 
(3) years thereafter. No Regional Governor, Vice-
28 
Governor, or Member of the Regional Assembly shall 
29 
serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. 
30 
(b) 
Voluntary renunciation of, or removal from, office 
31 
for any length of time shall not be considered as an 
32 
interruption in the continuity of the service for the full 
33 
term for which officials were elected. 
34 
35 
Section 50. Oath of Office. The Regional Governor, Vice-
36 
Governor and Members of the Regional Assembly on 
37 
assuming office shall take the following oath or affirmation: 
38 
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully 
39 
and 
conscientiously 
fulfill 
my 
duties 
as 
40 
Go vernor/ Vice-Governor/ Member of the Regional 
41 
Assembly of the Cordillera Autonomous Region, 
42 
preserve and defend the Constitution of the 
15 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
Republic of the Philippines and the Organic Act of 
the Cordillera Autonomous Region, execute these 
laws, do justice to all and consecrate myself to the 
service 
of the 
nation 
and 
the 
Cordillera 
Autonomous Region. So help me God.)) (In case of 
affirmation, the last sentence will be omitted.) 
7 
Section 51.Prohibition 
8 
(a) 
The Regional Governor and Vice-Governor shall 
9 
not, during their tenure, engage in the practice of any 
10 
profession or hold any other office or employment, 
11 
except as otherwise provided in this Act. 
12 
(b) 
The spouse and other relatives by consanguinity or 
13 
affinity within the fourth civil degree of the Regional 
14 
Governor and the Regional Vice-Governor shall not, 
15 
during their tenure, be appointed officers or employees 
16 
of the Regional Government, except as members of 
17 
their confidential staff. 
18 
(c) 
No members of the Regional Assembly may hold 
19 
any other office or employment in the government or 
20 
any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, 
21 
including 
government-owned 
or 
controlled 
22 
corporations, or their subsidiaries, during their term 
23 
without forfeiting their seat. Neither shall he/ she be 
24 
appointed to any office which has been created or the 
25 
emoluments whereof increased 
by the 
Regional 
26 
Assembly during the term for which he/she was 
27 
elected. 
28 
(d) 
The 
Regional 
Governor, 
and 
Regional 
Vice-
29 
Governor, and members of the Regional Assembly 
30 
shall not personally appear as counsel before any 
31 
court of justice or before the Electoral Commission or 
32 
quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies. 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
(e) 
The Regional Governor, Regional Vice-Governor, 
and members of the Regional Assembly shall not 
participate directly or indirectly in any contract with or 
in any franchise or special privilege granted by the 
Regional Government or any subdivision, agency or 
instrumentality thereof, including any government-
owned or-controlled corporations or in any of their 
subsidiaries. They shall not intervene in any matter 
before any office of the Cordillera Autonomous Region 
16 
.! 
.! 


1 
for their pecuniary benefit or where they may be called 
2 
upon to act on account of their office. 
3 
4 
Section 52. Vacancies and Succession 
5 
(a) 
In the event that the position of the Regional 
6 
Governor becomes permanently vacant, the Regional 
7 
Vice-Governor shall automatically become the Regional 
8 
Governor. 
9 
(b) 
If the position of the Regional Vice-Governor 
10 
becomes permanently vacant, the member of the 
11 
assembly garnering the highest percentage of votes in 
12 
the district represented shall become the vice-governor 
13 
or in case of his/her permanent disability, the next 
14 
higher shall assume said position. 
15 
(c) 
In case of permanent vacancy in the Regional 
16 
Assembly occurring not less than (1) year before the 
17 
expiration of the term of office, a special election in 
18 
which the concerned elective official was elected shall 
19 
be called to fill the vacancy: Provided, that the member 
20 
elected shall serve only for the unexpired term. 
21 
(d) 
In case of a permanent vacancy in the assembly 
22 
where automatic succession does not apply, the 
23 
Regional Governor shall appoint to the position so 
24 
vacated the nominee of the political party to which the 
25 
member who caused the vacancy belonged at the time 
26 
of his election. Provided, however, that the appointee 
27 
has all the qualifications required by this Organic Act 
28 
of a member of the Regional Assembly and none of the 
29 
disqualifications provided for in other laws, and: 
30 
Provided, further, that he / she comes from the same 
31 
district represented by the member who caused the 
32 
vacancy. 
33 
(e) 
For purposes of this article, a permanent vacancy 
34 
arises when the incumbent elective official concerned 
35 
dies, voluntarily resigns, is removed from office, fills 
36 
up a higher vacant office, 
refuses to assume office, 
37 
fails 
to 
qualify, 
or 
is 
otherwise 
permanently 
38 
incapacitated to exercise the powers and discharge the 
39 
functions of his office. 
17 


1 
Section 53. Temporary Vacancies 
2 
(a) 
When the Regional 
Governor 
IS 
temporarily 
3 
incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or 
4 
legal reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of 
5 
absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, 
6 
the regional vice governor shall automatically exercise 
7 
the powers and perform the duties and functions of 
8 
the former except the power to appoint, suspend or 
9 
dismiss employees which can only be exercised if the 
10 
period of temporary incapacity exceeds thirty (30)' 
11 
working days. 
12 
(b) 
Said temporary incapacity shall terminate upon 
13 
submission to the Regional Assembly of a written 
14 
declaration by the Regional Governor that he has 
15 
reported back to office. In cases where the temporary 
16 
incapacity is due to legal causes, the regional official 
17 
concerned shall also submit necessary documents 
18 
showing that said legal causes no longer exist. 
19 
(c) 
When the incumbent Regional 
Governor 
IS 
20 
traveling within the country but outside his territorial 
21 
jurisdiction for a period not exceeding three (3) 
22 
consecutive days, he may designate in writing, 
the 
23 
officer-in-charge of the said office. Such authorization 
24 
shall specify the powers and functions that the 
25 
regional official concerned shall exerCIse except the 
26 
power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees. 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
(d) 
In the event, however, that the Regional Governor 
concerned fails or refuses to issue such authorization, 
the Regional Vice-Governor shall have the right to 
assume the powers, duties and functions of the said 
office on the fourth (4th) day of absence of the Regional 
Governor, subject to the limitations provided In 
subsection c, hereof. 
(e) 
Except as provided above, the Regional Governor 
shall In no case authorize any regional official to 
assume the powers, duties and functions of the office, 
other than the Regional Vice-Governor or the highest 
ranking Member of the Regional Assembly, as the case 
may be. 
41 
Section 54. Approval of Leaves of Absence.Leaves of 
42 
absence of elective officials of the Cordillera Autonomous 
43 
Region shall be approved as follows: 
18 


1 
(a) 
Leaves of absence of regional officials, provincial 
2 
governor, mayor of a highly urbanized city or an 
3 
independent component city shall be approved by the 
4 
Regional 
Governor 
or 
his 
duly 
authorized 
5 
representative; 
6 
(b) 
Applications for leaves of absence of other officials 
7 
and employees other than those enumerated above 
8 
shall follow those stipulated in the Local Government 
9 
Code; 
10 
(c) 
Application for leave of the Regional Governor 
11 
shall be approved by the President 
12 
13 
Section 55.Compensation. 
14 
(a) 
Unless otherwise provided by law or regional 
15 
ordinance, the Regional Governor and Regional Vice-
16 
Governor shall receive an annual salary equivalent to 
17 
that of a department secretary and undersecretary, 
18 
respectively, of the national government, which shall 
19 
not be decreased during their tenure. No increase in 
20 
the salary of the Regional Governor and Regional Vice-
21 
Governor shall take effect until after the expiration of 
22 
the term of the Regional Governor and Regional Vice-
23 
Governor approving the same. 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
(b) 
Unless 
otherwise 
provided 
by 
a 
regional 
ordinance, a member of the Regional Assembly shall 
receive an annual salary not lower than that of an 
assistant secretary of the national government. No 
increase in salary provided for by ordinance shall take 
effect until after the expiration of the term of office of 
all members of the Regional Assembly approving the 
31 
same. 
32 
(c) 
They shall not receive during their tenure any 
33 
other emoluments from the government or any other 
34 
sources. 
35 
36 
Section 56. Disclosure. All regional officials shall, upon 
37 
their assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their 
38 
financial and business interests, including those of their 
39 . spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years 
40 
of age living in their households. Members of the Regional 
41 
Assembly shall notify the Regional Assembly of any 
42 
potential conflict of interest that may arise from the filing of 
19 


1 
measures of which they are authors. Any member found 
2 
guilty of non-disclosure as required under this section may 
3 
be expelled by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all the members 
4 
of the Regional Assembly, without prejudice to other 
5 
liabilities under pertinent laws. 
6 
7 
ARTICLE V 
8 
THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
9 
10 
Section 57. The executive power in the region shall be 
11 
vested in a Regional Governor. He shall exercise such 
12 
powers and perform such duties and functions as provided 
13 
by this Organic Act and other laws. 
14 
15 
Section 
58. 
As 
chief executive 
of the 
Regional 
16 
Government, the Regional Governor shall exercise control 
17 
and supervision over all programs, projects, services and 
18 
activities of the Regional Government, the regional line 
19 
agencies and offices, and the local government units within 
20 
the autonomous region. 
21 
22 
Section 59. The Regional Governor shall represent the 
23 
Cordillera Autonomous Region, including the Regional 
24 
Government, the regional line agencies and offices, and the 
25 
local government units within the autonomous region in 
26 
Cabinet meetings called by the President. 
27 
28 
Section 60. The Regional Governor shall address the 
29 
Regional Assembly at the opening of its regular sessions. 
30 
He/she may also appear before it at any time. 
31 
32 
Section 61. The Regional Governor shall submit to the 
33 
Regional Assembly within thirty (30) days from the opening 
34 
of every regular session, as the basis of the regional 
35 
appropriations bill, budget of expenditures and sources of 
36 
financing, including receipts from existing and proposed 
37 
revenue measures. 
20 
.! 
I 
" 


1 
Section 62. The Regional Governor and the different 
2 
regional departments shall have sufficientadministrative 
3 
and support staff to efficiently and effectively carry out 
4 
their mandates and 
the 
purposes 
of the 
regional 
5 
government. 
6 
7 
Section 63. There shall be regional executive assistants, 
8 
equivalent in rank and salary grade level to Assistant 
9 
Regional Directors of national government departments, 
10 
who shall be appointed by the Regional Governor and shall 
11 
hold office and serve at his discretion. Regional Executive 
12 
Assistants shall coordinate and harmonize the functions of 
13 
the various regional line agencies. Provided, that no more 
14 
than two (2) regional executive assistants shall come from 
15 
one (1) province or city within the region. Provided further, 
16 
that the regional executive assistant posts shall in no way 
17 
diminish the functions and resources of the different line 
18 
agencies. 
19 
20 
Section 64. The regional autonomous government shall 
21 
have the following mandatory offices: Office of the Regional 
22 
Executive Secretary, Office of the Regional Accountant, 
23 
Office of the Regional Administrator, Office of the Regional 
24 
Legal Officer, Office of the Regional General Services 
25 
Officer, Office of the Regional Engineer, Office of the 
26 
Regional Information Officer, Office of the Secretary to the 
27 
Regional Assembly, Office of the Regional Treasurer. In 
28 
addition thereto, the Regional Governor may, subject to the 
29 
approval of the Regional Assembly and availability of funds, 
30 
create other offices deemed necessary. 
31 
:1 
32 
The Regional Executive Secretary and the heads of the 
33 
various regional offices and employees under the executive 
34 
department shall be appointed by the Regional Governor. 
35 
With the exception of the former, the appointment of the 
36 
heads of regional officesrequires theconcurrence of the 
37 
majority of the members of the Regional Assembly and 
38 
compliance to civil service law, rules and regulations and 
39 
this Organic Act. The Regional Assembly shall act on said 
40 
appointment within fifteen (15) days from the date of 
41 
submission otherwise the same shall be deemed confirmed. 
42 
43 
The rank and salary grade level of the heads of the 
44 
different regional departments shall be equivalent to the 
45 
regional directors of regional line agencies. They shall 
21 


1 
receive compensation, allowances and other emoluments 
2 
and benefits allowed by law or ordinance. With the 
3 
exception of the Regional Executive Secretary, the heads of 
4 
the regional departments shall be mandatory. 
5 
6 
Thequalifications of regional appointive officials, their 
7 
duties and functions, are as follows: 
8 
9 
1) Office of the Regional Executive Secretary 
10 
a) 
The Regional Executive Secretary of the Cordillera 
11 
Autonomous 
Region 
shall be 
a 
citizen 
of the 
12 
Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral character, 
13 
a holder of a 
college degree preferably in law, 
14 
administration or any other related course from a 
15 
recognized college or university. He/she must have 
16 
acquired experience in management work for at least 
17 
five (5) years. 
18 
19 
20 
21 
b) 
The Regional Executive Secretary shall, subject to 
the control and supervision of the Regional Governor, 
carry out the functions and duties delegated to 
him/her and shall: 
22 
23 
24 
1. Directly assist the 
Regional 
management of the affairs 
Cordillera Autonomous Region. 
Governor 
pertaining 
25 
2. Implement directives, orders and decisions. 
In 
to 
the 
the 
26 
3. Decide, for and in behalf of the Regional Governor, 
27 
matters not requiring personal attention of the 
28 
Regional Governor. 
29 
4. Exercise supervision and control over the various 
30 
units in the Office of the Regional Governor 
31 
including their internal administrative requirements. 
32 
5. Exercise supervision, in behalf of the Regional 
33 
Governor, over the various agencies under the Office 
34 
of the Regional Governor. 
35 
6. Provide overall coordination in the operation of the 
36 
Regional Executive Office. 
37 
7. Determine and assign matters to the appropriate 
38 
units in the Office of the Regional Governor. 
39 
8. Have administrative responsibility for matters in the 
40 
Office of the Regional Governor coming from the 
41 
various regional offices and agencies of government. 
22 
.! 
.! 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
9. Exercise primary authority to sign papers "By 
authority of the Regional Governor", attest executive 
orders and other issuances unless attestation is 
specifically delegated to other officials by him or by 
the Regional Governor. 
10. Determine, with the approval of the Regional 
Governor, the appropriate assignment of offices not 
placed by law under any specific regional executive 
department. 
10 
11. Provide consultative, research, fact-finding and 
11 
advisory service to the Regional Governor. 
12 
12.Assist the Regional Governor in the performance of 
13 
functions pertaining to legislation. 
14 
13. Assist the Regional Governor in the administration 
15 
of special projects. 
16 
14. Take charge of matters pertaining to protocol in the 
17 
Regional Government and ceremonial functions. 
18 
15. Provide secretarial and clerical services for the 
19 
Regional Governor and other bodies. 
20 
16. Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to 
21 
carry out the objectives, policies and functions of 
22 
the Office of the Regional Governor. 
23 
17. Perform such other functions as the Regional 
24 
Governor may direct. 
25 
26 
2) Office of the Regional Accountant 
27 
(a) 
The Regional Accountant shall be a citizen of the 
28 
Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral character, 
29 
and a certified public accountant. He/she must have 
30 
acquired experience in the treasury or accounting 
31 
service for at least five (5) years. 
32 
33 
34 
35 
(b) 
The incumbent chief accountant in the office of 
the treasurer shall be given preference m 
the 
appointment 
to 
the 
position 
of 
the 
regional 
accountant. 
36 
(c) 
The regional accountant shall take charge of both 
37 
the accounting and internal audit services of the 
38 
autonomous region and shall: 
39 
1. 
Install and maintain an internal audit system in 
40 
the autonomous region. 
23 
.! 


1 
2. 
Prepare and submit financial statements to the 
2 
Regional Governor and to the Regional Assembly. 
3 
3. 
Apprise 
the 
Regional Assembly and other 
4 
government officials on the financial condition and 
5 
operations of the autonomous region. 
6 
4. 
Certify to the availability of budgetary allotment 
7 
to which expenditures and obligations may be 
8 
properly charged. 
9 
10 
11 
5. 
Review 
supporting 
documents 
before 
preparation of vouchers to 
of requirements. 
determine completeness 
12 
6. 
Prepare 
statements 
of 
cash 
advances, 
13 
liquidation, salaries, allowances, reimbursements 
14 
and remittances pertaining to the autonomous 
15 
region. 
16 
7. 
Prepare statements of journal vouchers and 
17 
liquidation of the same and other adjustments 
18 
related thereto. 
19 
8. 
Post individual disbursements to the subsidiary 
20 
ledger and index cards. 
21 
22 
23 
9. 
Maintain individual ledgers for officials and 
employees of the autonomous region pertaining to 
payrolls and deductions. 
24 
25 
26 
10. 
Record and post in index 
purchased furniture, 
fixtures, 
including disposal thereof, if any. 
cards details of 
and equipment, 
27 
11. 
Account for all issued requests for obligations 
28 
and maintain and keep all records and reports 
29 
related thereto. 
30 
12. 
Prepare journals and the analysis of obligations 
31 
and maintain and keep all records and reports 
32 
related thereto. 
33 
13. 
Exercise such other powers and perform such 
34 
other duties and functions as may be provided by 
35 
law or ordinance. 
36 
37 
3) Office of the Regional Administrator 
38 
(a) 
The Regional Administrator shall be a citizen of 
39 
the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral 
40 
character, and a holder of a college degree preferably 
24 


1 
m law, public administration or any other related 
2 
course from a recognized college or university. He/she 
3 
must have acquired experience in management and 
4 
administration work for at least five (5) years. 
5 
(b) 
Subject to the control and supervision of the 
6 
Regional Governor, the Regional Administrator shall: 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
1. Develop plans and strategies and upon approval 
thereof by the Regional Governor, implement the same 
particularly those which have 
to 
do 
with the 
management and administration-related programs and 
projects which the Regional Governor is empowered to 
implement and which the Regional Assembly is 
empowered to provide for under this Organic Act. 
2. Assist in the coordination of the work of all the 
officials 
of the 
autonomous 
reglOn, 
under the 
supervlslOn, direction, and control of the Regional 
Governor, and for this purpose, he may convene the 
chiefs of offices and other officials of the autonomous 
19 
reglOn. 
20 
3. Establish and maintain a sound personnel program 
21 
for the autonomous region designed to promote career 
22 
development and uphold the merit principle in the 
23 
local government service. 
24 
4. Conduct a continuing organizational development of 
25 
the autonomous reglOn with the end m View of 
26 
instituting effective administrative reforms. 
27 
5. Be in the frontline of the delivery of administrative 
28 
support services, particularly those related to the 
29 
situations during and in the aftermath of man-made 
30 
and natural disasters and calamities. 
31 
6. Recommend to the Regional Assembly and advise 
32 
the Regional Governor, as the case may be, on all 
33 
other matters relative 
to the management and 
34 
administration 
of 
the 
regional 
autonomous 
35 
government. 
36 
7. Exercise such other powers and perform such other 
37 
duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or 
38 
by ordinance. 
25 
, 
.! 


1 
4) Office of the Regional Legal Officer 
2 
(a) 
The Regional Legal Officer shall be a citizen of the 
3 
Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral character, 
4 
and a member of the Philippine Bar. He must have 
5 
practiced his profession for at least five (5) years. 
6 
(b) 
The Regional Legal Officer, the chief legal counsel 
7 
of the regional autonomous government, shall take 
8 
charge of the office of legal services and shall: 
9 
1. Formulate measures for the consideration of the 
10 
Regional Assembly and provide legal assistance and 
11 
support to the Regional Governor, as the case may be, 
12 
in carrying out the delivery of basic services and 
13 
provisions of adequate facilities necessary. 
14 
2. Develop plans and strategies and upon approval 
15 
thereof by the Regional Governor, as the case may be, 
16 
implement the same, particularly those which have to 
17 
do with programs and projects related to legal services 
18 
which the 
Regional 
Governor is empowered to 
19 
implement and which the Regional Assembly is 
20 
empowered to provide for under this Organic Act. 
21 
3. Recommend measures and advise the Regional 
22 
Governor on all other matters related to upholding the 
23 
rule of law. 
24 
25 
26 
27 
4. Be in the frontline of protecting human rights and 
prosecuting any violations thereof, particularly those 
which occur during and in the aftermath of man-made 
or natural disasters or calamities. 
28 
5. Exercise such other powers and perform such other 
29 
duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or 
30 
ordinance. 
31 
6. In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, 
32 
the legal officer shall: 
33 
1. Represent the regional autonomous government 
34 
in all civil actions and special proceedings 
35 
wherein the autonomous region or any official 
36 
thereof, in his official capacity, is a party. 
37 
ii. When required by the Regional Governor, draft 
38 
ordinances, contracts, bonds, leases and other 
39 
instruments, 
involving 
any 
interest 
of 
the 
40 
autonomous region and provide comments and 
41 
recommendations on any instrument already 
42 
drawn. 
26 
! 
" 


1 
111. Render his/her opinion in writing on any question 
2 
of law when requested to do so by the Regional 
3 
Governor. 
4 
IV. Investigate or cause to be investigated any 
5 
Regional Government official or employee for 
6 
administrative neglect or misconduct m office, 
7 
and 
recommend 
appropriate 
action 
to 
the 
8 
Regional Governor as the case may be. 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
v. Investigate or cause to be investigated any person, 
firm or corporation holding any franchise or 
exerclsmg any public privilege for failure to 
comply with any term or condition in the grant of 
such franchise or privilege by the Regional 
Government, 
and 
recommending 
appropriate 
action to the Regional Governor, as the case may 
be. 
17 
VI. When directed by the Regional Governor, initiate 
18 
and prosecute in the interest of the autonomous 
19 
region any civil action on any bond, lease or other 
20 
contract upon any breach or violation thereof. 
21 
Vll. Review 
and 
submit 
recommendations 
on 
22 
ordinances approved and execute orders issued. 
23 
24 
5) Office of the Regional Treasurer 
25 
26 
a) 
The Regional Treasurer shall be a citizen of the 
27 
Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral character, 
28 
and a 
holder of a 
college degree preferably m 
29 
commerce, public administration or law from a 
30 
recognized college or university. He / she must have 
31 
acquired experience in treasury or accounting service 
32 
for at least five (5) years. 
33 
34 
b) 
The Regional Treasurer shall take charge of the 
35 
Treasury Office, perform the duties provided for under 
36 
Book II of the Local Government Code, and shall: 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
1. Advise the Regional Governor and other Regional 
Government 
officials 
concerned 
regarding 
the 
disposition of government funds, and on such other 
matters relative to public finance. 
2. Take custody of and exercise proper management of 
the funds of the autonomous region. 
27 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
3. Take charge of the disbursement of all Regional 
Government funds and such other funds the custody 
of which may be entrusted to him/her by law or other 
competent authority. 
4. Maintain and update the tax information system of 
the autonomous region. 
5. Exercise such other powers and perform such other 
duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or 
9 
ordinance. 
10 
11 
6) Office of the Regional General Services Officer 
12 
(a) 
The Regional General Services Officer shall be a 
13 
citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good 
14 
moral character, and a holder of a college degree 
15 
preferably 
on 
public 
administration, 
business 
16 
administration and management or any other related 
17 
course from a recognized college or university. He/she 
18 
must have acquired experience in general services, 
19 
including management of supply, property, solid waste 
20 
disposal, and general sanitation, for at least five (5) 
21 
years. 
22 
(b) 
The Regional General Services Officer shall take 
23 
charge of the Office on General Services and shall: 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
1. Formulate measures for the consideration of the 
Regional Governor and provide him technical 
assistance and support in carrying out measures to 
ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of 
adequate 
facilities 
pursuant 
to 
the 
Local 
Government Code and this Organic Act which 
require general services expertise and technical 
support services. 
32 
2. Develop plans and strategies and upon approval 
33 
thereof by the Regional Governor implement the 
34 
same, particularly those which have to do with the 
35 
general services supportive of the welfare of the 
36 
inhabitants 
which 
the 
Regional 
Governor 
IS 
37 
empowered to implement. 
38 
3. Be in the frontline of general services related 
39 
activities, 
such as the 
possible or imminent 
40 
destruction 
or 
damage 
to 
records, 
supplies, 
41 
properties, and structures and the orderly and 
42 
sanitary clearing up of waste materials or debris, 
43 
particularly during and in the aftermath of man-
44 
made and natural calamities and disasters. 
28 
, 
" 


1 
4. Recommend and advise the Regional Governor on all 
2 
matters relative to general services. 
3 
5. In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, 
4 
the General Services Officer shall: 
5 
1. Take custody of and be accountable for all 
6 
properties, real or personal, 
owned by the 
7 
autonomous government and those granted to it 
8 
in the form of donation, reparation, assistance 
9 
and counterpart of joint projects. 
10 
11. With the approval of the Regional Governor, 
11 
assign building or land space to regional officials, 
12 
who 
by 
law, 
are 
entitled 
to 
such 
space. 
13 
Recommend to the Regional Governor reasonable 
14 
rental rates for Regional Government properties, 
15 
whether real or personal, which will be leased to 
16 
public or private entities. 
17 
18 
19 
iii. Recommend to the Regional Governor reasonable 
rental rates of private properties which 
may 
be 
leased for the official use of the Regional 
20 
Government. 
21 
1V. Maintain 
and 
supervise 
janitorial, 
security, 
22 
government public buildings and other real 
23 
property, whether owned or leased by the Regional 
24 
Government. 
25 
v. Collate and disseminate information regarding 
26 
prices, shipping and other costs of supplies and 
27 
other items commonly used by the Regional 
28 
Government. 
29 
VI. Perform archival and record management with 
30 
respect to records of offices and departments of 
31 
the Regional Government. 
32 
Vll. Perform all other functions pertaining to supply 
33 
and property management heretofore performed 
34 
by the Regional Government Treasurer. and 
35 
enforce policies on records creation, maintenance, 
36 
and disposal. 
37 
38 
39 
viii. Exercise such other powers and 
other 
duties 
and 
functions 
prescribed by law or ordinance. 
perform such 
as 
may 
be 
29 


1 
7) Office of the Regional Engineer 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
(a) 
The Regional Engineer shall be a citizen of the 
Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral character, 
and a licensed civil engineer. He/she must have 
acquired experience in the 
practice 
of his/her 
profession for at least five (5) years. 
7 
(b) 
The regional engineer shall take charge of the 
8 
Engineering Office of the Cordillera Autonomous 
9 
government and shall: 
10 
1. Initiate, review and recommend changes in policies 
11 
and objectives, plans and programs, techniques, 
12 
procedures 
and 
practices 
in 
infrastructure 
13 
development and public works in general of the 
14 
Regional Government. 
15 
2.Advise the Regional Governor on infrastructure, 
16 
public works, and other engineering matters. 
17 
3.Administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the 
18 
construction, maintenance, improvement, and repair 
19 
of roads, bridges, and other engineering and public 
20 
works projects of the Regional Government. 
21 
4.Provide 
engineering 
services 
to 
the 
Regional 
22 
Government, 
including investigation 
and 
survey, 
23 
engineering designs, feasibility studies, and project 
24 
management. 
25 
5.Exercise such other powers and perform such other 
26 
duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or 
27 
ordinance. 
28 
29 
8) Office of the Regional Information Officer 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
(a) 
The Regional Information Officer shall be a citizen 
of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral 
character,and a holder of a college degree preferably in 
journalism, mass communication or any other related 
course from a recognized college or university. He/ she 
must have experience in writing articles and research 
papers, or in writing for print, television or broadcast 
media of at least five (5) years. 
(b) 
The Regional Information Officer shall take 
charge of the Office on Public Information and shall: 
40 
1. 
Formulate 
measures 
and 
provide 
technical 
41 
assistance and support to the Regional Government in 
30 


1 
providing the information and research data required 
2 
for the delivery of basic services and provision of 
3 
adequate facilities so that the public becomes aware of 
4 
said services and may fully avail of the same. 
5 
2. Develop plans and strategies and, upon approval 
6 
thereof by the Regional Governor implement the same, 
7 
particularly those which have to do with public 
8 
information and research data to support programs 
9 
and 
projects 
which 
the 
Regional 
Governor 
IS 
10 
empowered to implement and provide. 
11 
3. Be in the frontline in providing information during 
12 
and in the aftermath of man-made and natural 
13 
calamities and disasters, with special attention to the 
14 
victims 
thereof, 
to 
help 
mimmize 
injuries and 
15 
casualties during and after emergency, and to 
16 
accelerate relief and rehabilitation. 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
4. Recommend and advise the Regional Governor on 
all matters relative to public information and research 
data as it relates to 
the total 
socio-economic 
development of the Regional Government. 
5. In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, 
the regional information officer shall: 
1. 
Provide 
relevant, 
adequate, 
and 
timely 
information to the autonomous region and its 
residents. 
ii. 
Furnish 
relevant 
regional 
government 
information and data to government agencies or 
offices as may be required by law or ordinance, 
and non-governmental organizations. 
iii. 
Maintain effective liaison with the various 
sectors of the community on matters and issues 
that affect 
the livelihood and the quality of life 
of the 
inhabitants and encourage support for 
programs of the local, 
regional and national 
government. 
iv. 
Exercise such other powers and perform such 
other duties and functions as may be prescribed 
by law or ordinance. 
40 
Section 65. There shall be a Regional Development Board 
41 
(RDP) which shall function as the main planning and 
42 
advisory body of the autonomous government, setting the 
31 
, 


1 
direction of economIC and social development of the 
2 
autonomous 
region 
and 
through 
which 
regional 
3 
development efforts shall be coordinated. 
4 
5 
Section 66. The Regional Development Board, which shall 
6 
be headed by the Regional Governor, shall be composed of 
7 
the Regional Governor as chairman, and a private sector 
8 
representative as co-chairman, the Regional Vice-Governor 
9 
as vice-chairman, and the following as members: 
10 
(a) 
All the provincial governors, the city and capital 
11 
town mayors. 
12 
(b) 
Two (2) members of the Regional Assembly to be 
13 
designated by its presiding officer. 
14 
(c) 
Private sector representatives of duly accredited 
15 
private 
sector 
and 
non-government 
16 
organizations/people's organizations, Provided that 
17 
their composition shall not be more than one-fourth of 
18 
the total membership. 
19 
(d) 
Regional heads of national line agencies operating 
20 
in the region. 
21 
(e) 
The Board may designate special non-voting 
22 
members (SNVMs) coming from both the public and 
23 
private sectors, upon concurrence of the majority of its 
24 
regular members. 
25 
26 
Section 67. The regional office of the National Economic 
27 
and Development Authority (NEDA) shall serve as the 
28 
secretariat and technical operations arm of the Board. 
29 
30 
Section 68. The Regional Development Board shall: 
31 
(a) 
Coordinate 
the 
preparation, 
implementation, 
32 
monitoring and evaluation of short- and long-term 
33 
regional development plans and investment programs, 
34 
regional 
physical 
framework 
plans 
and 
special 
35 
development plans, including the formulation of policy 
36 
recommendations. 
37 
(b) 
Integrate 
approved 
development 
plans 
of 
38 
provinces and cities, line agencies, state universities 
39 
and colleges, 
government owned and controlled 
40 
corporations and special development authorities in 
32 


1 
the autonomous region into the regional development 
2 
plan. 
3 
(c) 
Review, prioritize, and endorse to the autonomous 
4 
government the annual and multi-year sectoral 
5 
investment programs of the autonomous region for 
6 
funding and implementation. 
7 
(d) 
Review and endorse to the national government 
8 
the annual budgets of agency regional offices, state 
9 
colleges and universities and special development 
10 
authorities. 
11 
(e) 
Promote and direct the inflow and allocation of 
12 
private investments in the autonomous region to 
13 
support regional development objectives, 
policies, 
14 
strategies. 
15 
(f) 
Review and endorse national plans, programs and 
16 
projects 
proposed 
for 
implementation 
m 
the 
17 
autonomous region. 
18 
(g) 
As required by the Investment Coordinating 
19 
Council (ICC), review and endorse projects of national 
20 
government agencies that have impact on the region 
21 
and projects of LGUs in the region requiring national 
22 
government exposure which may come in the form of 
23 
guarantees, 
national 
government 
budget 
24 
appropriations or subsidies, among others. 
25 
26 
27 
28 
(h) 
Initiate and coordinate the development, funding 
and 
implementation 
of 
regional 
and 
special 
development projects such as those involving several 
agencies or LGUs. 
29 
(i) 
Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of 
30 
development projects undertaken by government 
31 
agencies, local government units, state colleges and 
32 
universities, 
government-owned and/or controlled 
33 
corporations and special development authorities m 
34 
the autonomous region. 
35 
Ul 
Perform other related functions and activities as 
36 
may be necessary to promote and sustain the socio-
37 
economic development of the autonomous region. 
38 
39 
Section 69. The Board shall create appropriate technical 
40 
and sectoral committees to assist in its work. 
33 
, 
" 


1 
Section 70. 
Existing regional coordinating committees 
2 
that are created by various laws and currently attached to 
3 
specific 
agencies, 
and 
ad-hoc 
program/project-based 
4 
steering committees, such as, but not limited to Regional 
5 
Anti-Poverty 
Council, 
Regional 
Project 
Monitoring 
6 
Committee, Regional Land Use Committee, Regional Peace 
7 
and Order Committee, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction 
8 
Management 
Committee, 
Regional 
Sustainable 
9 
Development Committee, Regional Research Coordinating 
10 
Committee, etc .. shall be placed under the umbrella of the 
11 
Regional Development Board. 
Secretariat work of these 
12 
inter-agency committees shall continue to be provided by 
13 
their mother agency. 
14 
15 
Section 71. When the need arises, the Board shall invite 
16 
the Congressmen of the provinces and cities of the 
17 
autonomous region. 
18 
19 
ARTICLE VI 
20 
THE REGIONAL VICE-GOVERNOR 
21 
22 
Section 
72. 
The 
Regional 
Vice-Governor 
shall 
23 
automatically become the Presiding Officer of the Regional 
24 
Assembly. 
25 
26 
Section 73. 
As the Presiding Officer of the Regional 
27 
Assembly, the Regional Vice-Governor shall: 
28 
(al 
Sign all warrants drawn on the Regional Treasury 
29 
Office 
for 
all expenditures appropriated for the 
30 
operation of the Regional Assembly; 
31 
(bl 
Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, 
32 
and this Organic Act, appoint all officials and 
33 
employees of the Office of the Regional Vice-Governor, 
34 
the 
Regional 
Assembly and the 
Office 
of the 
35 
Secretary to the Regional Assembly. The appointment 
36 
of the Secretary to the Regional Assem bly shall 
37 
however require the concurrence of the majority of the 
38 
members of the Regional Assembly as well as 
39 
compliance to civil service law, rules and regulations 
40 
and this Organic Act; 
34 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
(c) 
Assume the office of the Regional Governor for the 
unexpired term of the latter in the event of a 
permanent vacancy as provided in this Organic Act; 
(d) 
Exercise the powers and perform the duties and 
functions of the Regional Governor in cases of 
temporary vacancy as provided in this Organic Act; 
(e) 
Exercise the powers and perform the duties and 
functions as may be prescribed by an ordinance; 
10 
Section 74. The Regional Vice-Governor shall receive a 
11 
monthly compensation equivalent to that of a department 
12 
undersecretary of the national government, which shall not 
13 
be decreased during his/her tenure. 
No increase in the 
14 
salary of the Regional Vice-Governor shall take effect until 
15 
after the expiration of his/her term. 
16 
17 
ARTICLE VII 
18 
THE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 
19 
20 
Section 75. 
The legislative power of the Regional 
21 
Government in the Cordillera Autonomous Region shall be 
22 
vested in the Regional Assembly, except the extent reserved 
23 
by the Constitution and this Organic Act on initiative and 
24 
referendum. Within its territorial jurisdiction and subject to 
25 
the provisions of the Constitution and national laws, the 
26 
Regional Assembly of the Cordillera Autonomous Region 
27 
shall 
have 
legislative 
powers 
over 
those 
functions 
28 
enumerated under Section 28. 
29 
30 
Section 
76. 
The 
Regional 
Assembly 
shall 
enact 
31 
ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for 
32 
the general welfare of the region and its inhabitants as well 
33 
as for the efficient and effective operation of the Regional 
34 
Government. 
35 
36 
Section 77. The Regional Assem bly shall have an 
37 
administrative and support staff. Each member shall have 
38 
at least three (3) confidential Legislative Assistants whose 
39 
qualifications, rank and salary grade level shall be 
35 
, 
" 


1 
equivalent to regional executive assistants. Their term of 
2 
service shall however be coterminous with their overseer. 
3 
Section 78. The Regional Assembly shall start its regular 
4 
session on the first Monday of July, and by resolution fix 
5 
the day, time and place of its regular sessions, which shall 
6 
be held at least once a week. However, the Assembly may 
7 
be called to a special session by the Chairperson or the 
8 
Regional Governor whenever necessary and a notice of 
9 
meeting shall be sent to the member's place of residence at 
10 
least twenty-four (24) hours before the special session is 
11 
held. Unless otherwise concurred in by two-thirds (2/3) 
12 
votes of the members, there being a quorum, no other 
13 
matters may be considered at a special session except 
14 
those stated in the notice. The Regional Assembly may 
15 
invite the President and other government officials to 
16 
address it. 
17 
I 
" 
18 
Section 79. Sessions and Quorum. 
19 
(a) 
A majority of all the members of the Regional 
20 
Assembly shall constitute a quorum to do business, 
21 
but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, 
22 
and may compel the attendance of absent members in 
23 
such manner, and under such penalties as the 
24 
Assembly may provide. 
25 
(b) 
On the first regular session following the election 
26 
of its members, and within ninety (90) days thereafter, 
27 
the Regional Assembly shall adopt or update its rules 
28 
of proceedings which shall include, among other 
29 
things, the organization of the Assembly and the 
30 
election of its officers, creation of standing committees, 
31 
the time, place and manner of convening its regular 
32 
and special sessions, the conduct and discipline of its 
33 
members, the conduct and discipline of every person 
34 
present during its session, the preparation and 
35 
publication of its journal, the determination of 
36 
quorum, and the necessary votes to pass any measure, 
37 
and recall proceedings in accordance with the Local 
38 
Government Code. 
36 


1 
Section 80. Ordinance 
2 
(a) 
Every ordinance shall embrace only one (1) 
3 
subject which shall be expressed in the title thereof. 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
(b) 
No ordinance shall become a law unless it has 
passed three readings on separate days, and printed 
copies thereof in its final form have been distributed to 
the members three (3) days before its passage, except 
when the Governor certifies to the necessity of its 
immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or 
emergency affecting the region, or the component 
provinces, cities, municipalities or barangays. 
(c) 
Upon the last reading of an ordinance, no 
amendment thereto shall be allowed, and the vote 
thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the 
yeas and nays entered in the Journal. 
(d) 
Every ordinance passed by the Regional Assembly 
shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the 
Regional Governor. If he/she approves the same, 
he / she shall sign it. otherwise, he / she shall veto it 
and return the same with his objections to the 
Regional Assembly, which shall enter the objections in 
its Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such 
reconsideration, two-thirds (2/3) of all the members of 
the Regional Assembly shall agree to pass the 
ordinance, it shall become a 
law. The Regional 
Governor shall communicate his veto of any ordinance 
to the Regional Assembly within ten (10) days from 
receipt thereof otherwise, it shall become a law as if 
he/she had signed it. 
(e) 
The Regional Governor shall have the power to 
veto any particular item or items in an appropriation 
or revenue, but the veto shall not affect the item or 
items to which he/she does not object. 
Section 81. People's Question Hour 
(a) 
There shall be a people's hour at least once a 
month or as often as the rules of the Regional 
Assembly may provide, which shall be included in the 
Order of Business, during which any member of the 
Cabinet may, upon his own initiative, with the consent 
of the Regional Governor, or upon the request of the 
Regional Assembly, appear and answer questions and 
37 
.! 
! 
.. 


1 
interpellations by members of the assembly on any 
2 
matter pertaining to his department. 
3 
(b) 
The Regional Assembly or any of its committees 
4 
may conduct inqumes in aid of legislation in 
5 
accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. 
6 
The rights and dignity of persons appearing m or 
7 
affected by such inquiries shall be respected. 
8 
9 
Section 82. 
No member shall be questioned or be held 
10 
liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the 
11 
Regional Assembly or in any committee thereof. 
12 
13 
Section 83. 
The Regional Assembly shall pass an 
14 
appropriations ordinance for the ensuing year at or before 
15 
the end of each year, based on the budget of expenditures 
16 
and sources of funds submitted to it by the Regional 
17 
Governor .. 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
(a) 
No provision or enactment shall be embraced in 
the regional appropriations ordinance, unless it relates 
specifically to some particular appropriations therein. 
Any such provision or enactment shall be limited in its 
operation to the appropriation to which it relates. 
23 
(b) 
The procedure in approving appropriations for the 
24 
Regional Assembly shall strictly follow the same 
25 
procedure for approving appropriations for the regional 
26 
executive department. 
27 
(c) 
A special appropriations ordinance shall specify 
28 
the purpose for which it is intended, and shall be 
29 
supported by funds actually available as certified by 
30 
the 
Regional Treasurer or to be raised by a 
31 
corresponding revenue proposal therein. 
32 
(d) 
No ordinance shall be passed authorizing any 
33 
transfer of appropriations. however, the Regional 
34 
Governor and the presiding officer of the Assembly 
35 
may, by ordinance, be authorized to augment any item 
36 
in the general appropriations ordinance for their 
37 
respective departments from savings in other items of 
38 
their respective appropriations. 
39 
(e) 
The Regional Assembly may not increase the 
40 
appropriations 
recommended 
by 
the 
Regional 
41 
Governor for the operation of the Regional Government 
42 
as specified in the budget. The form, content and 
38 
.! 


1 
manner of preparation of the budget shall be 
2 
prescribed by regional law: Provided, however, that 
3 
pending the enactment of such a regional law, the 
4 
budgeting process of the Regional Government shall be 
5 
governed by existing national laws and rules and 
6 
regulations prescribed by the Department of Budget 
7 
and Management. 
8 
Section 84. Expenditure of Public Funds 
9 
(a) 
No money shall be paid out of the regional 
10 
treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation 
11 
made by regional law. 
12 
(b) 
No money or property shall be appropriated, 
13 
applied, paid or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, 
14 
benefit or support, of any sect, church, denomination, 
15 
sectarian institution, or system of religion or for the 
16 
use, benefit or support of any priest, preacher, 
17 
minister or other religious teacher or dignitary as 
18 
such, except when such priest, preacher, minister or 
19 
dignitary is assigned to the regional police or 
20 
government orphanage and rehabilitation centers or 
21 
similar institutions. 
22 
(c) 
All money collected on any regional tax levied for a 
23 
special purpose shall be treated as a special fund and 
24 
paid out for such purpose only. If the purpose for 
25 
which a special fund was created has been fulfilled or 
26 
abandoned, the balance, if any, shall be transferred to 
27 
the general fund of the Regional Government. 
28 
29 
Section 85. The Regional Assembly shall, within ten (10) 
30 
working days from approval thereof, submit to the 
31 
President and to both Houses of Congress a certified true 
32 
copy of all ordinances and resolutions it passed. 
33 
34 
35 
Section 86. The Regional Assembly may create such other 
36 
offices and positions as may be necessary to carry out the 
37 
purpose of the regional government subject to availability 
38 
of funds. 
39 
40 
Section 87. There shall be a Secretary to the Regional 
41 
Assembly with a rank, status and salary grade level 
42 
equivalent to a head of a regional department. He must be 
43 
a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral 
39 


1 
character, and a holder of a college degree preferably in 
2 
law, commerce, public administration, or any other related 
3 
course from a recognized college or university. He must 
4 
have at least three (3) years of relevant experience. 
5 
6 
The Secretary to the Regional Assembly shall: 
7 
1. Take charge of the office of the secretary to the 
8 
Regional Assembly; 
9 
2. Attend meetings of the Regional Assembly, and keep 
10 
a journal of its proceedings; 
11 
3. Keep the seal of the Regional Government and affix 
12 
the same with his/her signature to all ordinances, 
13 
resolutions, and other official acts of the Regional 
14 
Assembly and present the same to the presiding 
15 
officer for his/her signature; 
16 
4. Forward to the Regional Governor for approval 
17 
copies of ordinance enacted by the 
Regional 
18 
Assembly and duly certified by the presiding officer; 
19 
5. Forward to the Regional Assembly copies of duly 
20 
approved ordinances; 
21 
6. Furnish, upon request of any interested party, 
22 
certified copies of records of public character in 
23 
his/her custody upon payment to the Regional 
24 
Treasurer of such fees as maybe prescribed by 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
ordinance; 
7. Record m 
a 
book kept for the purpose, all 
ordinances and resolutions enacted or adopted by 
the Regional Assembly, with the dates of passage 
and publication thereof; 
8. Keep his/her office in all non-confidential records 
therein open to the public during the usual business 
hours; 
33 
9. Translate into the dialect used by the majority of the 
34 
inhabitants 
all 
ordinances 
and 
resolutions 
35 
immediately after their approval, and cause the 
36 
publication of the same together with the original 
37 
verslOn; 
38 
10. 
Take custody of the local archives and, where 
39 
applicable, the local library in annual account for 
40 
the same; and 
40 


1 
11. 
Exercise such other powers and perform such 
2 
other duties and functions as maybe prescribed by 
3 
law or ordinance relative to his/her position. 
4 
5 
Section 88. Subject to national laws and, sound public 
6 
administration principles, exercising the corporate powers 
7 
of the Regional Government under the Constitution and RA 
8 
7160 of 1991, the Regional Assembly shall evolve a 
9 
program for generating development financing to accelerate 
10 
social and economic development in the region and 
11 
implement 
the 
same, 
and 
after 
conducting 
public 
12 
consultation. Provided, that when regional revenues are 
13 
insufficient, the difference shall be funded by the national 
14 
government. 
15 
16 
Section 89. Following the provisions of and the timetable 
17 
for planning the Local Government Code, the Regional 
18 
Assembly shall 
approve by ordinance the recommended 
19 
physical framework plan, the local development plan, the 
20 
local 
development 
investment 
program, 
the 
annual 
21 
investment plan and annual budget. 
22 
23 
Section 90. When the need arises, the Regional Assembly 
24 
shall enact ordinances and necessary legislative measures 
25 
that shall strengthen and supplement the implementation 
26 
of national laws, devolved functions and address conflicting 
27 
laws. 
28 
29 
ARTICLE VIII 
30 
PATRIMONY, ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT 
31 
32 
Section 91. The Regional Government, with the support of 
33 
the national government, shall, pursuant to the purposes 
34 
of regionalization and consistent with the grant of regional 
35 
autonomy, initiate, stimulate, facilitate, 
support and 
36 
coordinate development in the region towards attaining 
37 
equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; 
38 
a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services 
39 
available to Cordillerans and an expanding productivity 
40 
and incomes as the key to raising the quality of life for all, 
41 
and thereby contributing to the goal of national poverty 
42 
reduction and development. 
41 


1 
2 
Section 92. 
The Regional Government shall take 
3 
affirmative action to encourage the component government 
4 
units, 
non-government 
organizations, 
including 
5 
corporations, cooperatives, peoples' organizations, and 
6 
similar collective associations, to actively participate and 
7 
support the economic and social growth and development 
8 
of the units in the region. 
9 
Section 93. The regional development program shall seek 
10 
accelerated and sustainable economic and social growth 
11 
and development in the region, taking into account the 
12 
peculiarities of the social, economic, and geo-physical 
13 
circumstances of the component Cordillera communities 
14 
and the need to preserve ecological balance. The regional 
15 
development plan shall take into account an environmental 
16 
critical area network zoning and use the watershed as a 
17 
planning unit considering that the region is a cradle of 
18 
watersheds. 
19 
20 
Section 94. 
In the formulation and implementation of 
21 
development policies [e.g. standards, costing etc], plans, 
22 
programs, and projects, the Regional Government shall, 
23 
among other things, address the following concerns: 
24 
(al 
Social development which shall include among 
25 
others, empowering the Cordillerans and their adopted 
26 
organizations 
to 
participate 
actively, 
and share 
27 
equitably, in the benefits of development. 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
(bl 
Ecosystems 
management, 
to 
include 
among 
others 
the 
delineation, 
protection, 
preservation, 
rehabilitation and development of watersheds and 
forest reserves, fish sanctuaries/refuge, and other 
government 
reservations 
that 
are 
declared 
by 
competent authorities as critical to the survival of the 
Cordillera communities, and their demarcation as 
inalienable and protected areas. 
36 
(cl 
Knowledge management, which shall include, 
37 
among 
others, 
the 
inventory, 
validation, 
and 
38 
promotion 
of 
indigenous 
knowledge, 
systems, 
39 
practices, institutions and applied researches and 
40 
inventions that support accelerated and sustainable 
41 
economic, social growth and development in the region 
42 
and the protection of these through patents. 
42 
, 
'. 


1 
(d) 
Research and development, which shall include 
2 
among others the conduct of applied researches that 
3 
shall identify the specific causes of unemployment, 
4 
poverty, 
and underdevelopment in each of the 
5 
component units of the region, given their disparities 
6 
in 
the 
socio-cultural, 
economic, 
infrastructural, 
7 
institutional, and natural resource circumstances and 
8 
the 
formulation 
of 
research-validated 
regional 
9 
development strategies and priority programs to 
10 
address the development needs of these component 
11 
communities. 
12 
(e) 
Institutional development, which shall include 
13 
among 
others 
the 
strengthening 
of 
peoples 
14 
organizations, cooperatives, and similar institutions, 
15 
empowering these for accelerating economic and social 
16 
growth and development and thereby democratizing 
17 
ownership, 
participation, 
and 
responsibility 
for 
18 
development. 
19 
(f) 
Land use management which shall include, 
20 
among others, environmental protection and resources 
21 
conservation. 
22 
(g) 
Urban land reform to address the problem of 
23 
inadequate shelter and congestion with its attendant 
24 
social problems. 
25 
(h) 
Rural modernization and development through 
26 
the development and use of appropriate technologies, 
27 
inventions and 
applicable 
indigenous 
knowledge 
28 
systems and practices considering the sustainability of 
29 
agriculture 
and 
industrial 
activities 
under 
the 
30 
topographic 
circumstances 
of the 
region'S 
land 
31 
resources. 
32 
(i) 
Local and regional infrastructure development. 
33 
34 
Section 95. The exploration, development, utilization, 
35 
management and enjoyment of the region's natural 
36 
resources shall be under the control and supervision of the 
37 
Regional Government upon consultation, except with 
38 
respect to uranium, coal and petroleum which shall be 
39 
under the control and supervision of the national 
40 
government. 
43 


1 
Section 96. The exploitation, exploration, development, 
2 
enjoyment and utilization of natural resources, except 
3 
those enumerated in Section 87 of this article, shall be 
4 
allowed to citizens of the Philippines and to private 
5 
enterprises, including corporations, 
cooperatives, and 
6 
similar collective organizations with at least sixty percent 
7 
(60%) of their capital investment or capital stocks directly 
8 
controlled or owned by citizens of the Philippines: Provided 
9 
that the implementation of programs, projects, and 
10 
activities related to these natural resources in the region 
11 
shall comply with the provisions of the Constitution and 
12 
national laws. 
13 
14 
Section 97. 
The Regional Government shall actively 
15 
pursue forestation and reforestation programs to ensure 
16 
that lands not devoted to agriculture in the Autonomous 
17 
Region shall be covered with trees, giving priority to land 
18 
strips along the edges of rivers and streams and shorelines 
19 
of lakes 
20 
21 
Section 98. The Regional Government in partnership with 
22 
the communities, especially the tribal peoples, and their 
23 
government units, and support of the national government 
24 
shall adopt measures for the development of communities 
25 
occupying lands eighteen percent (18%) slope or over, by 
26 
providing the necessary infrastructure, financial and 
27 
technical support. 
28 
29 
Section 99. The Regional Government shall, as a matter 
30 
of priority regulate the extraction and processing of mineral 
31 
and non-mineral resources in the region to protect the 
32 
ecosystem, including setting limitations on open pit mining 
33 
and similar non-reversible, environmentally destructive 
34 
methods of mining. Only responsible mining and quarrying 
35 
regardless of scale shall be allowed and supported by the 
36 
regional 
autonomous 
government, 
taking 
into 
37 
consideration sustainable rural development, ecological 
38 
balance and the interest of the 'communities where such 
39 
operations are conducted. 
40 
41 
Section 
100. 
The 
Regional 
Government 
shall, 
in 
42 
coordination with the national government, establish a 
43 
transportation and communication system interconnecting 
44 
, 
" 


1 
the various areas of the autonomous region with each other 
2 
and to other regions adjacent to the Cordilleras. Likewise, 
3 
the Regional Government in close coordination with 
4 
component local government units shall plan, construct, 
5 
modernize and maintain rural and urban infrastructure 
6 
facilities and utilities, including alternative transport 
7 
systems within critical environments. 
8 
Section 101. 
Subject to ecological considerations, the 
9 
Regional Government shall adopt and implement a 
10 
comprehensive rural agrarian reform program, as well as 
11 
an urban development program consistent with the 
12 
Constitution and national laws and policies to ensure the 
13 just and sustainable utilization of land within its 
14 jurisdiction. 
15 
16 
Section 102. 
The Regional Government shall, while 
17 
maintaining 
national 
standards 
pertaining 
to 
the 
18 
protection, 
conservation, 
and 
enhancement, 
of 
the 
19 
environment and natural resources, develop standards 
20 
appropriate to the 
socio-cultural and environmental 
21 
uniqueness of the Cordillera., 
22 
23 
ARTICLE IX 
24 
SOURCES OF REVENUES AND OTHER FISCAL 
25 
MATTERS 
26 
27 
Section 103. 
To conserve, protect and develop the 
28 
national patrimony and heritage located in the Cordillera 
29 
Autonomous Region, and devolved to the region by this 
30 
Organic Act, and to fund the operations of the Regional 
31 
Government, the Regional Government shall, in addition to 
32 
the existing shares of local government units, regional line 
33 
agencies and other government institutions, have a share 
34 
of the national taxes which include but not limited to the 
35 
following: 
36 
(a) 
One percent {l %) of the nationalInternal Revenue 
37 
Taxes. The Regional Government shall have a share in 
38 
the national internal revenue taxes equivalent to one 
39 
percetn (1%) based on the collection of the third fiscal 
40 
year preceding the current fiscal year, in addition to 
41 
the internal revenue allotment shares of the local 
45 


1 
government units. Eighty percent (80%) of such share 
2 
shall be appropriated in the annual regional budget for 
3 
development projects. The internal revenue allotment 
4 
share of the Regional Government shall be released 
5 
directly to the Regional Government Treasurer and 
6 
shall not be subject to any lien or holdback that may 
7 
be imposed by the national government for whatever 
8 
purpose. 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
(b) 
Forty percent (40%) Share of theNational Wealth 
Tax. The Regional Government shall have a separate 
forty percent (40%) share of the gross collections in the 
preceding fiscal year from mining taxes, royalties, 
environmental services, forestry and fishery charges, 
energy production charges, and such other taxes, fees 
and charges, including related surcharges, interests 
and fines derived from the utilization and development 
of the national wealth within its territorial jurisdiction. 
Provided, that the Regional Government shall likewise 
be entitled to ten percent (10%) share of the gross 
collections from the utilization of national wealth 
21 
sourced or emanating from the autonomous region by 
22 
persons, individual or juridical, operating outside the 
23 
territorial jurisdiction of the autonomous region. 
24 
Provided that the share in national wealth shall be 
25 
used for the preservation and further development of 
26 
the environment. 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
Local Government Units shall have a share of one 
and one-half percent (1.5%) of the gross sales or 
receipts or fifty percent (50%) of the gross collection, 
whichever is higher, derived from renewable energy 
taxes, mining taxes, royalties, forestry and fishery 
charges, and such other taxes, fees and charges, 
including related surcharges, interests or fines, and 
from its share in any co-production, joint ventures or 
production sharing agreement in the utilization and 
development of the national wealth within their 
territorial 
jurisdiction. 
This 
provlsIOn 
shall 
be 
applicable to all corporations, partnership, individuals 
and other entities including government agencies and 
government owned or controlled corporations engaged 
in the utilization and development of the national 
wealth within the region irrespective of existing 
contrary laws, rules and regulations of national 
application. 
46 
.! 


1 
(c) 
Two percent (2%) share out of theEconomic Zones 
2 
Tax. The Regional Government shall have a separate 
3 
two percent (2%) share out of the five percent (5%) 
4 
final tax on gross income earned or equivalent to forty 
5 
percent (40%) of total tax paid by businesses within 
6 
the economic zones found in the Cordillera, in addition 
7 
to the existing shares of the local government units. 
8 
The fund shall be used for Trade and Industry 
9 
programs. 
10 
Local government units shall have a separate two 
11 
percent (2%) share out of the five percent (5%) final 
12 
tax on gross tax paid by businesses within the 
13 
economlC zones. 
14 
(d) 
Twenty percent (20%) Share of Excess inValue 
15 
Added Tax. 
The Regional Government shall have a 
16 
separate twenty percent (20%) share of the excess in 
17 
VAT collections from the immediately preceding year. 
18 
The fund shall support cottage industry programs. 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
Local government units shall have a separate twenty 
percent (20%) share of the excess in VAT collections 
from the immediately preceding year. 
(e) 
Fifteen percent (15%) Share of Total Excise Tax. 
The Regional Government shall have a separate fifteen 
percent (15%) share of the total excise tax collection on 
locally 
manufactured 
Virginia-type 
cigarettes 
manufactured within the territorial jurisdiction of the 
autonomous region for the second calendar year 
preceding the year of distribution, in addition to the 
existing shares of the local government units. The fund 
shall be used for agriculture programs. 
31 
Local government units shall have a separate 
32 
fifteen percent (15%) share from the total excise tax 
33 
collection 
on 
locally 
manufactured 
Virginia-type 
34 
cigarettes for the second year preceding the year of 
35 
distribution. 
36 
(f) 
Fifteen percent (15%) Share of Incremental Excise 
37 
Tax on Burley and Native Tobacco Products. 
The 
38 
Regional Government shall have a separate fifteen 
39 
percent (15%) share of the excise tax collected on 
40 
burley and native tobacco products collected within 
41 
the region. The fund shall be used for agriculture 
42 
programs. 
47 


1 
Local Government Units shall have a separate 
2 
fifteen percent (15%) share of the excise tax collected 
3 
on burley and native tobacco products. 
4 
(g) 
Forty percent (40%) Share of Mini-Hydro Electric 
5 
Power Tax. 
The Regional Government shall have a 
6 
separate forty percent (40%) of the special privilege tax 
7 
on mini-hydroelectric power developers within the 
8 
region for the maintenance of the watershed. 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
Local government units' share from the Mini-
hydro electric power tax shall be based on the 
computation provided under the Local Government 
Code (RA 7160). 
(h) 
One percent (1%) of net income of Philippine 
(i) 
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and 
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for 
construction and maintenance of school buildings, 
hospitals and related structures and services. 
Shares in future tax impositions by the national 
19 
government. 
20 
21 
Section 104. 
The Regional Government shall have the 
22 
power to create its own sources of revenues and to levy fees 
23 
and charges except the power to impose taxes, subject to 
24 
such guidelines and limitations as the Constitution and 
25 
this Act may provide, consistent with the basic policy of 
26 
local autonomy and which include but not limited to the 
27 
following: 
28 
(al 
Revenue derived from operation of economic 
29 
enterprise established by the Regional Government. 
30 
(bl 
Fees and charges on services that the Regional 
31 
Government may provide. 
32 
(c) 
Appropriations and other budgetary aids from the 
33 
national government. 
34 
(d) 
Share in the proceeds from the development and 
35 
utilization of resources within the region. 
36 
(e) 
Share in revenues generated from the operation of 
37 
public utilities within the region as may be determined 
38 
by law. 
39 
40 
(f) 
Net 
revenues 
from 
public 
works 
contracts 
executed between the national government and the 
48 


1 
2 
autonomous region or its component provinces, cities, 
municipalities, and barangays. 
3 
(g) 
Contributions to the autonomous reglOn for the 
4 
cost of maintaining programs or areas that the 
5 
national government considers important to national 
6 
survival 
or 
sustainable 
development 
such 
as 
7 
reforestation or rehabilitation and protection of the 
8 
natural environment especially watersheds, declared 
9 
national heritage sites, historical sites, and such other 
10 
areas within the autonomous region consistent with 
11 
existing laws those applicable in the future. 
12 
(h) 
Block grants derived from economic agreements 
13 
or 
conventions 
authorized 
by 
the 
Regional 
14 
Government, 
donations, 
endowments, 
foreign 
15 
assistance, and other forms of aid, subject to the 
16 
Constitution and national laws. 
17 
18 
Section 105. 
All corporations, partnerships, and other 
19 
entities, including government agencies, 
government-
20 
owned and -controlled corporations directly engaged in 
21 
business in the region shall pay their corresponding taxes, 
22 
fees, and charges to the province, city, municipality or 
23 
barangays where such establishments are conducting their 
24 
business operations irrespective of the location of their 
25 
principal or main offices. 
26 
27 
Section l06.Appropriations from the national government. 
28 
(a) 
Regional line agencies. The national government 
29 
shall continue to provide appropriations for the regular 
30 
operations and programs of line agencies in the region. 
31 
In addition, each national government agency shall 
32 
appropriate not less than five percent (5%) of its 
33 
nationwide lumpsums to fund priority programs in the 
34 
reglOn. 
35 
(b) 
Regional structure. The national government shall 
36 
provide 
appropriations 
for 
the 
mandatory 
37 
organizational structure and positions of the Regional 
38 
Government. 
39 
(c) 
The Regional Government may access other special 
40 
purpose funds appropriated in the national budget. 
49 
,! 


1 
Section 107. Eighty percent (80%) share of national fees 
2 
and charges collected within the region (e.g. DOTC, LTO, 
3 
NEI, NSO, BID, PEZA, DFA, DOH, DPWH, DENR, PRC, 
4 
DOT, etc.) shall be directly remitted to the regional treasury 
5 
and fifty percent (50%) of this share shall be automatically 
6 
retained by the collecting agencies to augment their regular 
7 
operating expenses. 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
Section 108. Donations or grants to the region to finance, 
to provide for, or to be used in undertaking projects in 
health, education, culture, youth and sports development, 
human settlements, science and technology, and in 
economic development, shall be deductible in full in 
determining the taxable income of the donor or grantor. 
Provided, that the validation and certification processes for 
such donations or grants shall have been done according to 
regional law. 
Section 109. 
The Regional Government, in accordance 
with the provisions of the Constitution and national laws 
and 
upon 
the 
recommendation 
of 
the 
Regional 
Development Board and ratification of the Regional 
Assembly, shall evolve a system of economic agreements or 
trade compacts to generate grants and foreign loans for 
development of the 
27 
Section 110. The Regional Governor may contract loans 
28 
only in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution 
29 
and national laws and subject to the approval of the 
30 
Regional Assembly. 
31 
32 
Section 111. The Regional Assembly shall have the power 
33 
to grant tax incentives or exemption on taxes which the 
34 
autonomous region is empowered under this Act to impose. 
35 
An ordinance granting incentives, exemptions or both shall 
36 
only be passed with the concurrence of a majority of all the 
37 
members of the Regional Assembly. 
38 
39 
Section 112. The Regional Government may establish and 
40 
capitalize a 
Regional Development Bank which shall 
41 
administer its own funds. The bank shall be under the 
50 
,! 


1 
supervision of the BangkoSentralngPilipinas (BSP) and 
2 
under the general banking laws. 
3 
4 
Section 113. The Regional Government shall utilize the 
5 
same fiscal and regulatory licensing standards required by 
6 
the national government. 
7 
ARTICLE X 
8 
AGRICULTURE, AGRARIAN REFORM, TRADE AND 
9 
INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND COOPERATIVES 
10 
11 
Section 114. 
Consistent with applicable laws, the 
12 
Regional Government shall, as a basic policy, promote 
13 
agrarian 
reform 
and 
sustainable 
agricultural 
14 
developmentwithin the principles of social equity and 
15 
poverty alleviation, food security and food sufficiency, 
16 
global competitiveness, fair trade, rational use of resources 
17 
and sustain ability. 
18 
(a) 
The Regional Government shall ensure that basic 
19 
agricultural support services and infrastructure be 
20 
accessible to the small and marginalized farmers and 
21 
fisher folks. It shall likewise promote agribusiness and 
22 
full employment based on a 
sound agricultural 
23 
development and agrarian reform. 
24 
(b) 
The 
Regional 
Government shall put special 
25 
emphasis on production towards self sufficiency of 
26 
staple food commodities and shall at all times 
27 
guarantee 
the 
availability, 
accessibility 
and 
28 
affordability of safe food commodities. 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
(c) 
The Regional Government shall work on the 
improvement of the quality and value of raw and 
processed agri-based products as a means to enhance 
competitiveness of the agriculture and fisheries sectors 
in the domestic and global markets. 
34 
(d) 
The Regional Government shall formulate and 
35 
implement measures to protect the farmers from 
36 
unfair trade practices and unfair competition. 
37 
(e) 
The 
Regional Government shall ensure the 
38 
equitable and rational distribution of public resources 
39 
and investments in order to obtain the optimum 
51 


1 
returns on investments and to benefit a greater 
2 
number of constituents. 
3 
(fJ 
The Regional Government shall always consider 
4 
the limited carrying capacity of the region's natural 
5 
and agricultural resources in the development of 
6 
agricultural and fisheries programs and interventions. 
7 
Section 115. 
The Regional Government shall give top 
8 
priority to the conservation, protection, utilization and 
9 
development of water resources for agriculture, 
fisheries 
10 
development, 
domestic 
water 
supply 
and 
power 
11 
development. It shall enact appropriate legislation which 
12 
shall enhance, develop, conserve, and protect natural 
13 
fishery resources especially on species endemic to the 
14 
Cordillera. 
15 
16 
Section 116. The Regional Government shall recognize, 
17 
promote, and protect the rights and welfare of fisher folks, 
18 
their associations and cooperatives. 
The provinces and 
19 
cities concerned shall support to subsistence fisher folk 
20 
through adequate funds, appropriate technology and 
21 
research, marketing assistance, and other support services 
.! 
22 
like fishery processing facilities and access to credit. 
23 
24 
Section 117. Towards the development of healthy, and 
25 
environmentally sound, humane and just communities, the 
26 
Regional Government shall: 
27 
(al 
Pursue a multidisciplinary research, development 
28 
and extension activities to produce and promote 
29 
technologies and invent machinery and facilities, that 
30 
will be used to improve productivity and product 
31 
quality, reduce cost of production, enhance value-
32 
addition 
and 
improve 
processing, 
and enhance 
33 
abilities to protect the environment and agricultural 
34 
resources. 
35 
(bl 
Initiate, encourage and give highest priority 
36 
support to small and medium agribusiness enterprises 
37 
and industries with linkages to agriculture. It shall 
38 
ensure the allocation of adequate public investments 
39 
to 
establish 
adequate 
support 
agricultural 
40 
infrastructure and facilities to sustain such ventures. 
52 


1 
(C) 
Formulate and implement product standards and 
2 
regulatory rules that will ensure the production, 
3 
processing, distribution and marketing of safe and 
4 
globally-competitive products, and simultaneously 
5 
promote environmental conservation. 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
(d) 
Ensure that all sectors involved in the production, 
processing and marketing of food and non-food 
products shall strictly adhere to appropriate existing 
laws and regulations on the proper utilization and 
disposal of synthetic and chemical inputs and 
materials, and industrial and toxic wastes. Relative to 
this, the Regional Government shall pursue and 
encourage organic methods of agriculture. 
15 
Section 118. To promote investments and employment 
16 
and to prevent flight of capital and labor from the reglOn, 
17 
the Regional Government shall adopt measures: 
18 
(a) 
Against 
monopolies, 
cartels 
and 
unfair 
19 
competition in public utilities, development, trading 
20 
and similar concerns. It may, in the interest of regional 
21 
welfare and security, establish and operate pioneering 
22 
public utilities. Upon payment of just compensation, it 
23 
may transfer the ownership of such utilities to 
24 
cooperatives or other collective organizations. 
25 
(b) 
To 
initiate, 
encourage 
and 
support 
26 
industrialization in the region, taking into account the 
27 
culture and capabilities of the people of the area to 
28 
control or manage their resources, the ecological needs 
29 
of the area and the protection, conservation and 
30 
development of resources. 
31 
32 
Section 119. Consistent with the preservation of cultural 
33 
heritage and the protection of ecology, the Regional 
34 
Government shall promote eco-cultural tourism within the 
35 
region. Sites with historical, scientific, cultural significance 
36 
including natural and man-made landmarks and scenic 
37 
vistas shall likewise 
be 
preserved, 
maintained and 
38 
protected. 
39 
40 
Section 120. The Regional Government shall encourage, 
41 
promote and support the establishment and development 
42 
of economic zones, industrial and trade centers, and 
53 
.! 
, 
" 


1 
airports, in strategic areas and growth centers in the 
2 
region, including the necessary support infrastructure in 
3 
accordance with land use and other environmental 
4 
considerations. 
5 
6 
Section 
121. 
The 
Regional Government shall, 
In 
7 
coordination with the local government units, encourage 
8 
investments, development, marketing and exportation of 
9 
indigenous and other local products in accordance with its 
10 
development goals 
and priorities. 
11 
12 
Section 122. 
The Regional Government shall promote 
13 
cooperatives registered with the Cooperative Development 
14 
Authority as tools for economic development, social justice, 
15 
and people empowerment to initiate policies and develop 
16 
mechanisms to enjoin the participation of the banking 
17 
sector and financial institutions in the delivery of credit 
18 
assistance for the establishment and building of rural 
19 
enterprises and small-medium enterprises (SMEs). 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
ARTICLE XI 
EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, LANGUAGE, 
ARTS AND CULTURE, AND SPORTS 
Section 123. The Regional Government shall, consistent 
with the Constitution and national laws, exercise legislative 
powers over regional educational policies and preservation 
of the cultural heritage in the autonomous region which 
shall, among others, include: 
(a) 
Establishment of educational institutions, colleges 
and 
universities 
which 
shall 
enjoy 
fiscal 
and 
administrative autonomy but subject to regional laws. 
Existing 
educational 
institutions, 
colleges 
and 
universities shall continue to be governed by their 
respective charters. 
(b) 
Development of curricular programs relevant to 
the cultural heritage and responsive to the social, 
economic, political and moral needs of the people and 
the autonomous region. 
54 


1 
(C) 
Adoption and enactment of educational policies 
2 
that shall recognize, support, develop and promote 
3 
existing indigenous system of learning. 
4 
(d) 
Creation of educational board that will superVIse, 
5 
govern and intervene in the establishment, adoption 
6 
and implementation of educational policies and 
7 
programs of both formal and informal education and 
8 
all schools, colleges and universities in the region. 
9 
10 
Section 124. The Regional Government shall ensure the 
11 
prioritization of budget allocation of five percent (5%) from 
12 
the annual income of the region to constitute the base of 
13 
the budget for education.! 
14 
15 
Section 125. Private educational institutions, colleges and 
16 
universities shall enjoy the protection and support of the 
17 
Regional Government. All revenues and assets of non-
18 
stock, non-profit educational institutions used actually, 
19 
directly and exclusively for educational purposes shall be 
20 
exempt from taxes and duties. 
21 
22 
Section 126. The Regional Government shall assist the 
23 
national government to provide free basic educationand 
24 
shall likewise endeavor to provide free tertiary education 
25 
through scholarship programs, subsidies, research grants 
26 
and other incentives to poor, gifted, and deserving 
27 
individuals. 
Towards this end, there shall be created a 
28 
Regional Scholarship Committee for Education. 
29 
30 
Section 127. The right of teachers, employees, students 
31 
and parents to organize themselves and to participate In 
32 
school policy and decision-making shall be guaranteed. 
33 
34 
Section 128. Local government unit-paid teachers shall 
35 
be jointly supervised, administered and governed by LGU 
36 
and school heads. 
37 
38 
Section 129. The level of compensation and other benefits 
39 
for regionally-paid government teachers and non-teaching, 
55 


1 
staff of the regional educational system in the region must! 
2 
try to equal than the national standard 
3 
4 
Section 130. The educational system in the region shall 
5 
develop a program, research, instruction and extension 
6 
that will promote consciousness and appreciation of the 
7 
ethnic identity of the people in the regionand shall provide 
8 
a better understanding of their cultural heritage for the 
9 
attainment of national unity and harmony in all levels of 
10 
education. It shall provide, promote, enhance or adopt a 
11 
curriculum in all levels that includes Cordillera languages, 
12 
customs and traditions and other indigenous knowledge 
13 
systems and practices, as may be applicable. 
14 
15 
Section 131. State colleges and universities. 
16 
(a) 
State colleges and universities in the region shall 
17 
form part of the regional educational sub-system of the 
18 
autonomous region and shall continue to enjoy fiscal 
19 
and institutional autonomy, continue to be governed 
20 
by their respective charters and enjoy support of the 
21 
Regional Government. 
22 
(b) 
The Regional Government shall be represented in 
23 
the board of regents or trustees in state universities 
24 
and colleges in the region. 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
(c) 
The budget of state colleges and universities in 
the region while prepared separately shall form part 
the 
budget of the 
Regional 
Government when 
presented to congress for approval. The state colleges 
and universities shall continue to receive funding from 
the 
national 
government 
while 
the 
Regional 
Government shall provide additional funding. 
(d) 
The Regional Government shall capacitate state 
colleges and universities in order to provide assistance 
to regional development. 
36 
Section 132. 
Subject to the general supervision of the 
37 
Regional Government, all schools with charters shall 
38 
continue to be governed by their respective charters. 
39 
40 
Section 
133. 
The management of scientific and 
41 
indigenous research and appropriate technology on all 
56 


1 
levels of education including research institutions shall be 
2 
given priority by the Regional Government. 
3 
4 
Section 134. 
Incentives and safeguards for intellectual 
5 
property rights, and assistance in the registration of 
6 
patents and copyrights shall be accorded to Cordillera 
7 
artists, writers, scientists, researchers and inventors. 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
Section 135. 
The Regional Government shall retain 
English and Filipino as a medium of instruction in all levels 
of education. 
Consistent with its regional and cultural 
identity, and whenever possible, it shall adopt a system of 
multi-lingual or mother tongue-based approach in basic 
education to strengthen and enrich the various languages 
and dialects in the region as well as the national language 
as maybe appropriate. 
Section 136. The Regional Government shall design and 
implement region-wide physical fitness, sports development 
programs, and indigenous games and sports which shall be 
a cooperative responsibility of the school, the community, 
and the government. 
24 
Section 137. The Regional Government shall establish a 
25 
Regional Research Coordinating Council, which shall 
26 
harmonize the research and development efforts of the 
27 
academe and research institutions in the region. 
28 
29 
ARTICLE XII 
30 
SOCIAL, JUSTICE AND WELFARE 
31 
32 
Section 138. The Regional Government commits itself to 
33 
social protection and shall among other things, adopt 
34 
measures to: 
35 
(a) 
Empower and improve the quality of life of the 
36 
poor, disadvantaged, marginalized, and vulnerable 
37 
individuals, families, sectors and communities of the 
38 
regIOn. 
57 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
(b) 
Reduce or eradicate poverty to ensure that all 
Cordillerans are free from all forms of deprivation, 
vulnerability, and abuse. Towards this end, the 
Regional Government shall organize a Cordillera Anti-
Poverty Council (CAPC) which shall formulate and 
oversee the implementation of a 
comprehensive 
regional anti-poverty framework. 
8 
(c) 
Create equal opportunities for assistance and 
9 
protection for all Cordillerans. 
10 
(d) 
Promote gender and development (GAD) through 
11 
the creation, adoption and sustainability of programs 
12 
and policies that are gender sensitive. 
13 
(e) 
Enact measures and develop programs that will 
14 
protect the people from any threat of violence and 
15 
exploitation, eliminate trafficking in persons and 
16 
mitigate pressures for involuntary migration and 
17 
servitude of persons, not only to support trafficked 
18 
persons but more importantly, 
to ensure their 
19 
recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the 
20 
mainstream of society. 
21 
22 
Section 139. The Regional Government shall undertake 
23 
steps to protect the labor sector and promote equality of 
24 
employment opportunities for all. Towards this end, it 
25 
shall, among other things, provide for: 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
(a) 
Participation of the Regional Government in the 
regional 
wage 
board 
in 
working 
out 
periodic 
adjustments 
and 
rational 
standardization 
of 
compensation rates to ensure a sustainable and 
decent wage for all workers. 
(b) 
Profit and productivity gain-sharing schemes that 
recognize the right of workers to a just share in the 
profits and productivity gains of businesses, provide 
incentives thereof, and the right of the enterprise to 
reasonable returns on investments. 
36 
(c) 
Protection of workers against unhealthy and 
37 
unsafe working conditions. 
38 
(d) 
Legislation for the benefit and welfare of domestic 
39 
helpers. 
40 
(e) 
Mandatory corporate social responsibility towards 
41 
employees and host community. 
58 


1 
2 
Section 140. The Regional Government shall promote the 
3 
hiring of qualified Cordillerans in government projects and 
4 
private businesses located in the autonomous region. 
5 
6 
Section 141. The Regional Government recognizes health 
7 
as a basic human right and the attainment, maintenance 
8 
and protection thereof shall be its responsibility. It affirms 
9 
health as an instrument for and a product of socio-
10 
economic development. For this purpose, it shall, among 
11 
other things: 
12 
(a) 
Establish, maintain, and support an effective 
13 
health care delivery system utilizing primary health 
14 
care as a comprehensive and integrated approach. 
15 
(b) 
Ensure that the health care system is governed by 
16 
the principles of service, social justice and equity. 
17 
(c) 
Promote health knowledge and skills that will 
18 
enable its people to take responsibility for their health. 
19 
(d) 
Give relevant training and appropriate standards 
20 
for health workers and professionals. 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
(e) 
Establish and maintain an effective food and drug 
regulatory system which shall provide for the adoption 
of an essential drug list, encourage the use of generic 
medicines or drugs, and promote the use of herbal 
medicines and indigenous health resources. 
26 
(D 
Conduct research on traditional healing methods 
27 
and promote indigenous health care practices. 
28 
(g) 
Evolve financing schemes to effectively lessen the 
29 
costs of health care without sacrificing the quality of 
30 
health care services including the prioritization in the 
31 
annual budget of at least five percent (5%) to form the 
32 
base of health budget. 
33 
34 
Section 142. 
The Regional Government shall, in 
35 
consonance with the Constitution, guarantee the rights of 
36 
all workers to self-organization, collective bargaining and 
37 
negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including 
38 
those provided by law. 
59 
,! 


1 
Section 143. The Regional Government shall: 
2 
(a) 
Promote 
the 
well-being 
of 
differently-abled 
3 
persons, the mentally handicapped, the elderly, the 
4 
homeless, widows and orphans, retirees, and veterans, 
5 
adult and juvenile criminal offenders and victims. and 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
(b) 
Assist 
victims 
of 
calamities, 
abused 
and 
depressed children and women in crisis situations, 
including victims of adult and juvenile criminal 
offenders. 
11 
Section 144. 
The Regional Government shall adopt a 
12 
social integration program responsive to the needs of rebel 
13 
returnees including adult and juvenile criminal offenders. 
14 
15 
Section 145. 
The Regional Government shall adopt 
16 
insurance and social security measures responsive to the 
17 
needs of its people to supplement existing privileges. 
18 
19 
Section 146. 
The Regional Government, in cooperation 
20 
with the private sector, shall promote housing programs 
21 
where needed, which shall be financed under liberal credit 
22 
terms and shall utilize indigenous materials, architecture 
23 
and technology. Participation of housing cooperatives to 
24 
administer the projects shall be encouraged. 
25 
26 
Section 147. The Regional Government shall recognize 
27 
and strengthen the role of the Cordillera women in nation-
28 
building. It shall ensure the full implementation of the 
29 
Magna Carta of Women and all other existing national laws 
30 
that promote the welfare and protection of women. 
31 
32 
Section 148. The Regional Government shall establish a 
33 
comprehensive program on youth development, create the 
34 
structures to implement the same and appropriate 
35 
adequate funds to provide support for the program. 
36 
37 
Section 149. The Regional Government shall promote and 
38 
support duly established peoples' organizations and 
39 
encourage the formation of organizations, especially those 
40 
of the underprivileged. 
60 
! 
" 
! 
" 


1 
2 
3 
ARTICLE XIII 
PEACE AND ORDER 
4 
Section 150. The Regional Government shall promote and 
5 
maintain peace and order and public safety in the region. It 
6 
shall not allow private armies. 
7 
8 
Section 151. The defense and security of the autonomous 
9 
region 
shall 
be 
the 
responsibility 
of the 
national 
10 
government with due recognition to recommendations from 
11 
the Regional Government. 
12 
13 
Section 152. Consistent with the Local Government Code 
14 
and other relevant laws, the Regional Government shall 
15 
have co-management over peace-keeping programs and 
16 
initiatives and undertake close coordination with the 
17 
Philippine National Police as well as the Philippine Army, 
18 
when the need arises. 
19 
20 
Section 153. 
The provlslOns of the preceding sections 
21 
notwithstanding, the Regional Governor may request the 
22 
President of the Philippines to call upon the Armed Forces 
23 
of the Philippines: 
, 
24 
(a) 
To prevent or suppress lawlessness, violence, 
25 
invasion or rebellion, when the public safety so 
26 
requires, in accordance with the provisions of the 
27 
Constitution. 
28 
(b) 
To suppress the danger to or breach of peace in the 
29 
autonomous region, when the police forces of the 
30 
autonomous region are not able to do so. 
31 
(c) 
To avert any imminent danger to public order and 
32 
security in the autonomous region. 
33 
34 
Section 154. The Regional Government shall strengthen 
35 
and enhance indigenous institutions or systems as may be 
36 
applicable and found to be acceptable and effective in the 
37 
promotion of social, political, economic and peace and 
38 
order in the region. It shall provide for a system of 
39 
incorporating indigenous practices in conflict resolution 
40 
wherever and whenever applicable. 
61 


1 
2 
Section 155. The Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-
3 
COR) shall remain as the primary peace keeping force of 
4 
the autonomous 
region under the administration and 
5 
control of the National Police Commission with the 
6 
supervision of the Regional Governor. However, the PRO-
7 
COR shall be headed by a Regional Police Director who 
8 
shall be assisted by regional deputy directors and 
9 
preferably Cordillerans. The Regional Police Director shall 
10 
be 
chosen 
from 
among 
five 
(5) 
nominees 
to 
be 
11 
recommended by the Regional Governor. 
12 
13 
14 
ARTICLE XIV 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
15 
Section 156. 
This Organic Act shall be officially 
16 
promulgated in Filipino and English and translated into the 
17 
languages or dialects widely spoken in the autonomous 
18 
region. In case of conflict, the English text shall prevail. 
19 
20 
Section 157. For purposes of qualification for any elective 
21 
or appointive public office in the Cordillera Autonomous 
22 
Region, the person to be elected or appointed must have 
23 
domiciled in the region for at least two (2) 
years 
24 
immediately preceding the election or appointment. 
25 
26 
Section 158. The Congress may, upon recommendation of 
27 
the Regional Assembly, adopt a new name for the 
28 
Cordillera Autonomous Region. 
29 
30 
Section 159. 
The Regional Government shall have a 
31 
regional emblem and hymn. 
62 
I 


1 
2 
3 
ARTICLE XV 
AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS 
4 
Section 160. Any amendment to, or reV1SlOn of this Act 
5 
may be made by Congress upon recommendation of the 
6 
majority of all members of the Regional Assembly. 
7 
8 
Section 161. 
Any amendment to or revision of this 
9 
Organic Act shall become effective when ratified by a 
10 
majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite called for the 
11 
purpose which shall be held not earlier than sixty (60) days 
12 
not later than ninety (90) days after the approval of such 
13 
amendment or revision. 
14 
ARTICLE XVI 
15 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 
16 
17 
Section 162. Unless otherwise provided by law, the date 
18 
of election of the first set of officials of the Regional 
19 
Government shall be in the next local election following the 
20 
ratification 
of this 
Organic 
Act 
in 
the 
plebiscite. 
21 
Subsequent elections shall coincide with the nationwide 
22 
local elections. 
23 
24 
Section 163. Coverage of the Plebiscite 
25 
(a) 
The coverage of the plebiscite shall be the 
26 
provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, 
27 
Mountain Province, the chartered City of Baguio and 
28 
the component City of Tabuk, Kalinga. 
29 
(b) 
The provinces or city which vote unfavorably in 
30 
the plebiscite shall revert to their mother region prior 
31 
to the establishment of the Cordillera Administrative 
32 
Region. 
33 
34 
Section 164. 
Except for the regional line agencies, the 
35 
Cordillera 
Executive 
Board, 
the 
Cordillera 
Regional 
36 
Assembly, and the Cordillera Bodong Administration as a 
63 
.! 


1 
commission, created under Executive Order No. 220, and 
2 
the Cordillera Regional Development Council created by 
3 
Executive Order 30 after the de-activation of the above-
4 
mentioned 
Cordillera 
bodies, 
shall 
cease 
to 
exist 
5 
immediately upon the assumption of office of the Regional 
6 
Governor. 
7 
For this purpose, all their funds, properties and assets 
8 
shall 
automatically 
be 
transferred 
to 
the 
Regional 
9 
Government. Their employees shall be given priority in the 
10 
filling up of available vacant positions in the Regional 
11 
Government, subject to civil service laws, rules and 
12 
regulations. 
13 
14 
Section 165. The seat of the Regional Government of CAR 
15 
shall be determined by the majority of all members of the 
16 
Regional Assembly: Provided, however, that the interim 
17 
seat of the Regional Government shall be in the City of 
18 
Baguio. 
19 
20 
Section 166. Within one (1) month from the organization 
21 
of the Regional Government, an Oversight Committee 
22 
composed of the executive secretary as Chairperson, the 
23 
secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, 
24 
the Cordillera Regional Governor, the presiding officer of 
25 
the Cordillera Legislative Assembly, two (2) senators to be 
26 
designated by the Senate President, two (2) representatives 
27 
to be designated by the Speaker of the House of 
28 
Representatives, the incumbent Chairperson and Co-
29 
Chairperson of the Regional Development Council, the 
30 
Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local 
31 
Government, the Chairperson of NCIP as members, shall be 
32 
organized for the purpose of supervising the transfer to the 
33 
autonomous region of such powers and functions vested in 
34 
it by this Organic Act and the appropriations of the offices 
35 
or agencies including the transfer of properties, assets and 
36 
liabilities, and such personnel as may be necessary. and of 
37 
identifying the other line agencies and government-owned 
38 
or -controlled corporations that may be absorbed by the 
39 
Regional Government and, with respect to the latter, also 
40 
the terms and conditions of their turnover. 
41 
Within six (6) months after its organization, the 
42 
oversight 
committee 
shall 
submit 
its 
report 
and 
43 
recommendation to the President of the Philippines who 
44 
shall act on the report and recommendations within ninety 
64 


1 
(90) days after receipt thereof: Provided, however, that if 
2 
the President fails 
to act within said period, 
the 
3 
recommendations of the Oversight Committee shall be 
4 
deemed approved. 
5 
I 
6 
Section 167. Over and above that regularly given to Local 
7 
Government Units and regional line agencies, the national 
8 
government shall continue its annual allotment to the 
9 
Regional Government. In addition, the national government 
10 
shall provide the Cordillera Autonomous Region an annual 
11 
assistance of Ten billion pesos (PIO,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO) for the 
12 
first 
five 
(5) 
years 
and 
Five 
billion 
pesos 
13 
(P5,000,OOO,OOO.OO) for the next five (5) years to be 
14 
allocated in the following manner: 
15 
(a) 
Twenty 
percent 
(20%) 
for 
the 
Regional 
16 
Government for regional infrastructure, livelihood and 
17 
revenue generating projects. 
18 
(b) 
Ten percent (10%) for each province and highly 
19 
urbanized 
city for infrastructure, 
livelihood and 
20 
revenue generating projects. 
21 
(c) 
Four percent (4%) for a component city. 
22 
(d) 
Six percent (6) shall remain with the Regional 
23 
Government as Trust Fund. 
24 
Provided, That annually, each barangay shall receive 
25 
not less than One Percent (1%) and each municipality shall 
26 
receive not less than Ten Percent (10%) to be taken from 
27 
the share of the province where they are located. 
28 
In the case of a chartered city, barangays shall take 
29 
their shares from the city government. Provided, that the 
30 
projects shall be in accordance with the Regional and Local 
31 
Development Plans and Budgets as approved by their 
32 
respective legislative bodies. 
33 
34 
Section 168. Disclosure and transparency. Funds shall be 
35 
available exclusively for the specific purpose for which they 
36 
have been appropriated. Any officer of the Cordillera 
37 
Autonomous Government whose duty permits or requires 
38 
the possession, custody and disbursement of the funds 
39 
shall be accountable and responsible thereof. Financial 
40 
records shall be kept, audited and made public annually or 
41 
as often as maybe necessary. 
65 
, 
" 


1 
2 
Section 169. 
The share of each local government unit 
3 
shall be released without need of any further action, 
4 
directly to the provincial, city, municipal or barangay 
5 
treasurer, as the case may be on a quarterly basis within 
6 
five (5) days after the end of each quarter, and which shall 
7 
not be subject to any lien or holdback that may be imposed 
8 
by the Regional Government for whatever purpose. 
9 
10 
Section 170. The creation of the Cordillera Autonomous 
11 
Region shall take effect when approved by a majority of the 
12 
votes cast by the constituent units provided in Section 2, 
13 
Article I of this Act, in a plebiscite which shall be held not 
14 
earlier than two(2) months but not later than nine (10) 
15 
months after this Act takes effect: provided, that only the 
16 
provinces and cities voting favorably in such plebiscite 
17 
shall be included in the CAR. 
18 
The sum of One Hundred Twenty Five million pesos 
19 
(PhP125,000,000.00) 
IS 
hereby appropriated 
for 
the 
20 
following purposes: 
21 
22 
23 
(a) 
Ten million pesos (PhP10,000,000.00) 
to be 
allotted to the Regional Development Council for the 
conduct of 
a well-coordinated Inter-Sectoral 
and 
24 
Inter-agency 
Regional, 
Provincial, 
Municipal and 
25 
Barangay information campaign on this Act. 
26 
(b) 
Fifty million pesos (PhP50,000.00) shall be 
27 
equitably divided among the local government units. 
28 
(c) 
Twenty Five million pesos (PhP25,000,000.00) to 
29 
be allotted to the Commission on Elections. 
30 
(d) 
Forty million pesos (PhP40,000,000.00) to be 
31 
allotted to the Regional Government for its initial 
32 
organizational requirements. 
33 
The Regional Development Council with the assistance 
34 
of the Philippine Information Agency, and in consultation 
35 
with the provincial/ city governments, 
the 
Cordillera 
36 
Association 
of 
Regional 
Executives, and 
other 
key 
37 
stakeholders, shall determine the manner of campaigning 
38 
and the deputization of government agencies, non-
39 
government organizations and other stakeholders for 
40 
purposes of conducting a well-coordinated information 
41 
campaign. 
66 


1 
The amount of One Hundred Twenty Five million pesos 
2 
(PhP125,OOO,OOO.OO) 
as herein appropriated shall be 
3 
charged against the contingent fund. Any deficiency thereof 
4 
shall be taken from any available funds of the national 
5 
government. 
6 
7 
Section 171. Any provision or part of this Organic Act 
8 
found to be invalid or unconstitutional shall not invalidate! 
9 
the provisions or parts thereof not affected thereby. 
10 
11 
Section 172. All laws inconsistent with this Organic Act 
12 
are here by repealed or modified accordingly. 
13 
ARTICLE XVII 
14 
EFFECTIVITY 
15 
16 
Section 173. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
17 
days following its complete publication in at least two (2) 
18 
national newspapers and all local newspapers of general 
19 
circulation in the autonomous region. 
20 
21 
Approved,