EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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)
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No. 1232
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DEC 11 
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RECEIVED BY
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF THE CORDILLERA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution provides for the autonomy of the Cordillera region, as 
provided in Section 15 of Article X which states:
There shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the 
Cordilleras consisting o f provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographic areas 
sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and 
social structures, and other relevant characteristics within the framework o f this 
Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity o f the 
Republic o f the Philippines.
Thirty-two years since the promulgation of the Constitution, the region of 
Cordillera has yet to achieve real autonomy. The establishment of an autonomous 
region of Cordillera is important to provide a basic structure of government in the 
region and to secure the identity and cultural heritage of the people of Cordillera.
The Cordillera Administrative Region is home to a number of indigenous tribes 
collectively known as the Igorot. There are 12 ethnolinguistic groups in the Cordillera 
Administrative Region, namely the Applai, Balangao (sometimes known as Baliwon), 
Bontok, Kankanaey, Iwak, Karao, Ibaloy, Kalanguya, Ifugao, Isnag, Kalinga and 
Tingguian.1 According to data from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, 
there are 1,252,962 indigenous peoples residing in the region.2 This is a huge 
percentage of the total recorded population of the region in 2015 which was recorded 
at 1,722,006.3
1 http://ncipcar.ph/index.php/about-ips
https://www.ncipro67.com.ph/indigenous-peoples-of-the-philippines/
https://psa.gov.ph/content/population-cordillera-administrative-region-based-2015-census-population


Through the establishment of an Autonomous Region of the Cordillera, the 
people from the Cordilleras will have the opportunity to decide on what policies and 
programs will best fit the region and at the same time have the freedom to pursue their 
political, economic, social and cultural development within the framework of national 
sovereignty and in consonance with their local practices and cultural heritage and 
identity. With genuine regional autonomy, it is our belief that underdevelopment and 
poverty in the Cordilleras can be more effectively addressed.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
;UEL F. ZUBIRI
JUAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No. 1232
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DEC 11 
P6:36
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Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
1 
AN ACT
2 
ESTABLISHING THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF THE CORDILLERA
3
4 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in
5 
Congress assembled:
6 
PREAMBLE
7 
We, the Cordillerans, imploring the will of Divine Providence, exercising our
8 
fundamental and Constitutional right to self-determination, faithful to the pursuit of our
9 
forebears for the protection, conservation and development of our patrimony and
10 
cultural heritage, in order to secure for ourselves and our posterity a region of peace
11 
and prosperity founded on truth, fairness, freedom, justice, love and solidarity through
12 
an Autonomous Region that shall ensure our human development, and our active
13 
participation as citizens in the affairs of a united Philippine State, do proclaim this
14 
Organic Act of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.
15
16 
ARTICLE I
17 
NAME AND PURPOSE
18 
SECTION 1. Name. -  There is hereby established an autonomous region in the
19 
Cordillera to be known as the "Autonomous Region o f the Cordillera."
20
21 
SEC. 2. Purpose. -  The purpose of this law is to establish an effective political
22 
entity, provide for its basic structure of government in recognition of the justness and
23 
cause of the Cordillerans and to secure their identity, posterity, and allow for
24 
meaningful governance.


ARTICLE II
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
AREA OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF THE CORDILLERA
SEC. 3. Area o f the Autonomous Region o f the Cordillera. -  The area of 
the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC) shall consist of the city and provinces 
that shall vote favorably in the plebiscite called for the ratification of this Organic Act 
pursuant to Section 18, Article X of the 1987 Constitution. The area of the plebiscite 
shall be the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, 
and the chartered City of Baguio.
11 
SEC. 4. Cordilleran Identity. -  The term "Cordillerarf shall apply to all citizens
12 
of the Philippines who are residents for at least one (1) year within the ARC.
13
14 
ARTICLE I I I
15 
DECLARATION OF POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES
16 
SEC. 5. Integral Part o f the Republic. -  The ARC shall remain an integral and
17 
inseparable part of the national territory of the Philippines as defined by the
18 
Constitution and existing laws. The autonomous region shall be governed and
19 
administered in accordance with the laws enacted by the Regional Assembly and by this
20 
Organic Act.
21 
SEC. 6. Equitable Share in the National Budget and Development
22 
Assistance. -  The national government shall provide the autonomous region a
23 
proportionate and equitable share in the annual national budget and foreign assisted
24 
projects in addition to other financial assistance, support and subsidies to accelerate its
25 
development. Whenever the Commission on Audit finds that the internal controls set
26 
up in the region are inadequate, it may require pre-audit and shall likewise conduct
27 
seminars in the communities concerned explaining the benefits and proper use of the
28 
internal revenue allotments.
29 
SEC. 7. Self-governance. -  In the exercise of their right to genuine autonomy
30 
and meaningful self-governance, Cordillerans are free to pursue their political,
31 
economic, social and cultural development within the framework of national sovereignty
32 
and in accordance with the Constitution.


1 
SEC. 8. Democratic Political System. -  The Regional Government is a
2 
democratic political system allowing the people to participate in the political processes.
3 
SEC. 9. Prior and Preferential R ight -  Cordillerans shall have prior and
4 
preferential right to the natural, material, and fiscal resources of the ARC.
5 
SEC. 10. Fundamental Rights and Duties o f People. — The fundamental
6 
rights and duties of the people in the ARC are those defined in the Constitution, this
7 
Organic Act and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.
8 
SEC. 11. Rights to Initiatives, Consultations, Referenda and Plebiscites.
9 
-  Without prejudice to other rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the rights of the
10 
people of the ARC to initiate measures for the passage, amendment or repeal of
11 
regional or local legislation; to be consulted on matters that affect their welfare; to call
12 
for a referendum on important issues affecting their lives; and, to recall regional or local
13 
officials as provided by Republic Act (RA) No. 7160, also known as the "Local
14 
Government Code o f 1991, "are hereby recognized.
15 
SEC. 12. Accountability o f Public Officers. -  The Regional Government, to
16 
meet the priority needs and service requirements of its constituents shall adopt the
17 
principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in order to ensure an
18 
accountable, efficient and dynamic organizational structure.
19
20 
SEC. 13. Upholding Human Rights. -  The Regional Government shall take
21 
measures to prevent torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment, illegal
22 
detention and extra-judicial killings.
23 
SEC. 14. Establishment o f Peace Zones. -  The Regional Government adheres
24 
to the policy of peace and shall establish peace zones within the region.
25 
SEC. 15. Devolution o f Powers. -  The Regional Government shall adopt a
26 
policy on local autonomy whereby regional powers shall be devolved to local
27 
government units (LGUs) particularly in areas of education, health, human resources,
28 
science and technology, and people empowerment. Until a law implementing this
29 
provision is enacted by the Regional Assembly, the provisions of RA 7160 shall continue
30 
to apply to all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangay within ARC.
31 
The regional assembly shall not pass any law to diminish, lessen or reduce the
32 
powers, functions, and shares in the internal revenue allotment of the said local
33 
government units as provided by RA 7160.


1 
SEC. 16. Sustainable Use and Management o f Resources. — The Regional
2 
Government shall share with the national government in the exploration, development
3 
and utilization of its natural resources, conservation and protection of natural resources
4 
by promoting the sustainable use and management thereof and adopts environmentally
5 
sound and appropriate technology in the management of natural resources. The use of
6 
renewable energy shall be promoted for power generation.
7 
SEC. 17. Community Responsive Education. -  The Regional Government
8 
shall integrate in the educational system a subject that responds to the needs of the
9 
Cordillera communities which respects and promotes Cordilleran knowledge, core
10 
values, systems, institutions, culture and practice; encourages the use of languages and
11 
methods 
of 
education; 
promotes 
science 
and 
appropriate 
technology 
and
12 
methodologies that encourage creative and critical thinking of the Cordilleran.
13
14 
SEC. 18. Protection and Empowerment. -  The Regional Government shall
15 
formulate plans and programs for the empowerment of the youth and guarantees their
16 
effective participation and representation in all aspects of public affairs. Laws shall be
17 
enacted, and measures adopted to protect women and children against all forms of
18 
neglect, cruelty, and exploitation which are harmful to their moral, physical, or mental
19 
health.
20 
SEC. 19. Regional Arrangements. -  The Regional Government shall pursue a
21 
policy of interregional development planning, coordination and mutual cooperation in
22 
order to sustain the use, development as well as the protection and conservation of its
23 
resources which benefits other regions.
24 
SEC. 20. Equal Access and Non-discrimination. -  The Regional Government
25 
shall ensure equal access by Cordillerans to resources, employment opportunities and
26 
services regardless of ethnic origin, gender, language, political conviction, economic,
27 
social status or religious belief.
28 
SEC. 21. Social Justice. -  The Regional Government shall minimize disparities
29 
between the rich and the poor, rural and urban areas within the region by providing,
30 
maintaining and ensuring the equitable delivery of basic and responsive health
31 
programs, quality education, appropriate services, livelihood opportunities, affordable
32 
and progressive housing projects and water resource development.
33 
SEC. 22. Foreign Investments. -  The Regional Government shall provide
34 
incentives to investors, corporations and other businesses, but shall adopt measures to


1 
prevent the abuse of human rights and exploitation of natural resources. To this end,
2 
the Regional Government shall adopt local and international safeguards to review and
3 
audit the impact of all forms of foreign aid, loans special projects and the like.
4 
SEC. 23. Customary Laws. -  Existing customary justice and laws on personal,
5 
family and property relations shall be respected.
7 
ARTICLE IV
8 
THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF THE CORDILLERA
9 
A. Powers o f the Autonomous Region o f the Cordillera
10 
SEC. 24. Powers and Functions. -  The Regional Government shall exercise
11 
powers and functions necessary for the proper governance and development of all
12 
provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays within the autonomous region consistent
13 
with the declared constitutional policy on local autonomy and decentralization:
14 
Provided: That nothing in this Act shall be construed as to authorize the diminution of
15 
the powers and functions already enjoyed by local government units.
16 
SEC. 25. Devolved Powers. -  The Autonomous Region of the Cordillera is a
17 
corporate entity with jurisdiction in all matters devolved to it by the Constitution and
18 
this Organic Act as herein enumerated:
19 
(1) Administrative organization:
20 
a. Declaration of holidays;
21 
b. Public administration and bureaucracy for the region; and
22 
c. Identification, generation, and mobilization of international human resources
23 
for capacity-building and other activities involving the same within the region.
24 
(2) Creation of sources of revenues:
25 
a. Authority to regulate power generation, transmission and distribution
26 
operating exclusively in the autonomous region; and
27 
b. Imposition of taxes except those which are already taxed by the national and
28 
local government.
29 
(3) Ancestral domain and natural resources:
30 
a. Protection of the ancestral domain and ancestral lands of indigenous cultural
31 
communities (ICCs) consistent with IPRA.
32 
b. Declaration of nature reserves and aquatic parks, forests, watershed
33 
reservations, and other protected areas in the autonomous region.


1 
c. Authority, power, and right to the control and supervision over the
2 
exploration, utilization, development, and protection of the lands, forests,
3 
water, minerals and other natural resources within the autonomous region in
4 
accordance with the Constitution and the pertinent provisions of this Organic
5 
Act including strategic minerals such as uranium, petroleum, and other fossil
6 
fuels, mineral oil, and all sources of potential energy.
7 
d. Regulation of small-scale mining to the end that the ecological balance, safety
8 
and health, and the interests of the affected communities, and the local
9 
government units of the place where such operations are conducted are duly
10 
protected and safeguarded.
11 
(4) Urban and rural planning development:
12 
a. Adoption and implementation of a comprehensive land use program;
13 
b. Land 
management, 
land 
distribution, 
and 
agricultural 
land 
use
14 
reclassification; and
15 
c. Authority to conduct cadastral survey in coordination with the Department of
16 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
17 
(5) Economic, social and tourism development:
18 
a. Establishment of transportation and communication facilities;
19 
b. Promotion of tourism within the autonomous region; and
20 
c. Regulation of games and amusement operations within ARC.
21 
(6) Educational policies in skills training, research and scholarships.
22 
(7) Preservation and development of the cultural heritage, establishment of its own
23 
libraries and museums, and declaration of historical and cultural sites, in
24 
coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA); and
25 
(8) Such other matters for the promotion of the general welfare of its inhabitants.
26
27 
B. Intergovernm ental Relations
28 
SEC. 26. General Supervision. -  Consistent with the principle of autonomy,
29 
the President shall exercise general supervision over the Regional Government to
30 
ensure that laws are faithfully executed.
31 
SEC. 27. Regional Line Agencies. -  Regional Line Agencies shall continue to
32 
exist without diminution of their mandated authority. Regional line agency officials and
33 
employees shall continue to be paid by the national government. There shall be no
34 
diminution of their compensation and other benefits due its officials and employees.
35 
Existing assets and properties of the regional line agencies and offices shall remain
36 
under their custody and accountability.


1 
SEC. 28. Tenure o f Civil Service Employees. -  Except for just cause and after
2 
due process, officials and employees of the regional line agencies and offices in the
3 
region shall not be laid off, dismissed or removed as a result of any reorganization
4 
attendant to the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera.
5 
SEC. 29. Priority in Hiring. -  Officials and employees of the regional
6 
autonomous government and the regional line agencies in the autonomous region shall
7 
be hired in accordance with appropriate civil service rules and regulations, but priority
8 
shall be accorded to qualified Cordillerans.
9 
SEC. 30. Appointm ent to Third Level Positions. -  The Regional Governor
10 
shall fill up third level positions from among at least three (3) recommendees of the
11 
Regional Personnel Selection Board (PSB) that shall be duly constituted.
12 
SEC. 31. Budget Preparation. -  Regional line agencies and offices shall
13 
prepare their respective budgets separate and distinct from the budget of the Regional
14 
Government. Their budgets shall however be furnished to the regional government to
15 
ensure that plans and priorities of the autonomous region are harmonized and properly
16 
considered in the budgeting processes.
17 
SEC. 32. Management o f ODA Funds. -  The autonomous region may avail of
18 
Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded projects and other foreign financial
19 
grants or donations and shall undertake these projects through the regional line
20 
agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state colleges and
21 
universities, local government units or whichever is deemed appropriate.
22 
SEC. 33. Government Owned and Controlled Corporations. -  Government
23 
Owned and Controlled Corporations such as the Government Service Insurance System,
24 
the Social Security System, the Pagtutulungan-Ikaw, Bangko Industriya't Gobyerno
25 
(PAG-IBIG), PhilHealth and others shall continue to be governed by their respective
26 
charters and other pertinent laws.
27 
SEC. 34. Autonomy o f Local Government Units. -  Local government units
28 
shall continue to be independent from each other and shall have the same set of local
29 
officials and employees and shall enjoy autonomy and continue to exercise the powers
30 
granted them under the Local Government Code and other existing laws. The Local
31 
Government Code shall apply to all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the
32 
autonomous 
region 
until the Regional Assembly shall enact a regional Local
33 
Government Code. Nothing herein provided shall be construed in any manner as to


1 
diminish the powers and functions as well as benefits and privileges already being
2 
enjoyed by the local government units.
3 
SEC. 35. Supervision o f Local Government Units through the Regional
4 
Governor. -  Consistent with the basic policy on local autonomy, the President, through
5 
the Regional Governor shall exercise supervision over LGUs in the autonomous region
6 
to ensure that their acts are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions.
7 
SEC. 36. Revenues and Taxes Accruing to LGUs. -  Revenues, taxes, fees
8 
and charges generated by the local government units and the regional government
9 
from their respective local tax ordinances shall exclusively accrue to them.
10 
SEC. 37. Just Share in National Taxes. -  The local government units in the
11 
autonomous region, including the Regional Government, shall have a just share in the
12 
national taxes and applicable revenues which shall be automatically released to them.
13 
SEC. 38. Equitable Share in the Utilization o f Resources. -  The local
14 
government units in the autonomous region including the Regional Government shall be
15 
entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the
16 
national wealth within their respective areas, in the manner provided by law and this
17 
Organic Act.
18 
SEC. 39. City Charters. -  Chartered cities within the autonomous region shall
19 
be governed primarily by their charters.
20 
SEC. 40. Creation o f Special Political Subdivisions. -  Special metropolitan
21 
political subdivisions may, by law, be created by the Regional Assembly, subject to a
22 
plebiscite. The component cities and municipalities shall retain their basic autonomy and
23 
shall be entitled to their own local executive and legislative bodies. The jurisdiction of
24 
the metropolitan authority that will thereby be created shall be limited to basic services
25 
requiring coordination.
26 
SEC. 41. Right o f LGU's to Aggregate. -  Local government units in the
27 
autonomous region may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts,
28 
services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance with
29 
law.
30 
ARTICLE V
31 
ELECTIVE OFFICIALS OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL GOVERNMENT -
32 
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS OF OFFICE, VACANCIES AND SUCCESSION,
33 
AND ACCOUNTABILITY


2 
SEC. 42. Elective Officials. -T h e  elective officials of the Autonomous Region of
3 
the Cordillera are the (a) Regional Governor, (b) Regional Vice-Governor, and (c)
4 
Members of the Regional Assembly.
5 
SEC. 43. Qualifications. -  (a) Candidates for Regional Governor and Vice-
6 
Governor positions must be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, at least
7 
twenty-five (25) years of age on election day, a registered voter in the region and a
8 
resident thereof for a period of at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of
9 
election, able to read and write Filipino or English; (b) Candidates for the position of
10 
Member of the Regional Assembly must be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran,
11 
at least twenty five (25) years of age on election day, a registered voter in the
12 
provincial district or city and a resident thereof for a period of at least one (1) year
13 
immediately preceding the day of election, able to read and write Filipino or English or
14 
any other local language in the region.
15 
SEC. 44. Disqualifications. -  In addition to the disqualifications provided under
16 
Book I, Title Two, Chapter 1, Section 40 of the Local Government Code, candidates for
17 
Regional Governor, Vice-Governor and members of the Regional Assembly must not be
18 
related to the incumbent elected regional officials within the fourth degree of
19 
consanguinity or affinity.
20 
SEC. 45. Manner o f Election. — The Regional Governor and Vice-Governor,
21 
who shall belong to the same political party, shall be elected at large by direct vote of
22 
the registered voters of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera. 
A vote to the
23 
Regional Governor shall be counted as a vote to the Regional Vice-Governor.
24 
(a) Each province and city shall elect their own representatives to the Regional
25 
Assembly. Any highly urbanized city in the autonomous region is entitled to four (4)
26 
representatives to the Regional Assembly. Each province shall be entitled to four (4)
27 
representatives, two (2) per provincial district, and one (1) for the component city.
28 
Provided: That any component city created after the effectivity of this Organic Act shall
29 
be entitled to representation to the Regional Assembly as may be provided by law.
30 
(b) Unless otherwise provided, the regular election of the Regional Governor,
31 
Vice Governor, and members of the Regional Assembly shall be held on the second
32 
Monday of May.
33


1 
SEC. 46. Term o f Office. -  (a) The term of office of all elective regional officials
2 
elected after the effectivity of this Organic Act shall be three (3) years which shall begin
3 
at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of election and shall end at
4 
noon of the same date three (3) years thereafter. No regional governor, vice-governor,
5 
or member of the regional assembly shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive
6 
terms.
7 
(b) Voluntary renunciation of, or removal from, office for any length of time shall not be
8 
considered as an interruption in the continuity of the service for the full term for which
9 
officials were elected.
10 
SEC. 47. Oath o f Office. -  The Regional Governor, Vice-Governor and Members
11 
of the Regional Assembly on assuming office shall take the following oath or
12 
affirmation:
13 
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I  will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my
14 
duties as Governor/Vice-Governor/Member o f the Regional Assembly o f the
15 
Autonomous Region o f the Cordillera, preserve and defend the Constitution o f
16 
the Republic o f the Philippines and the Organic Act o f the Autonomous Region o f
17 
the Cordillera, execute these laws, do justice to all and consecrate myself to the
18 
service o f the nation and the Autonomous Region o f the Cordillera. So help me
19 
God." (In case o f affirmation, the last sentence will be omitted.)
20 
SEC. 48. Prohibitions. -  (a) The Regional Governor and Vice-Governor shall
21 
not, during their tenure, engage in the practice of any profession or hold any other
22 
office or employment, except as otherwise provided in this Act.
23 
(b) The spouse and other relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth
24 
civil degree of the Regional Governor and the Regional Vice-Governor shall not, during
25 
their tenure, be appointed officers or employees of the Regional Government, except as
26 
members of their confidential staff.
27 
(c) No member of the Regional Assembly may hold any other office or
28 
employment in the government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof,
29 
including government-owned or controlled corporations, or their subsidiaries, during
30 
their term without forfeiting their seat. Neither shall any member of the regional
31 
assembly be appointed to any office which has been created or the emoluments
32 
whereof increased by the Regional Assembly during the term for which such member
33 
was elected.
10


1 
(d) The Regional Governor, and Regional Vice-Governor, and members of the
2 
Regional Assembly shall not personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or
3 
before the Electoral Commission or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies.
4 
(e) The Regional Governor, Regional Vice-Governor, and members of the
5 
Regional Assembly shall not participate directly or indirectly in any contract with or in
6 
any franchise or special privilege granted by the Regional Government or any
7 
subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned o r-
8 
controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries. They shall not intervene in any
9 
matter before any office of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera for their pecuniary
10 
benefit or where they may be called upon to act on account of their office.
11 
SEC. 49. Vacancies and Succession. -  (a) In the event that the position of the
12 
Regional Governor becomes permanently vacant, the Regional Vice-Governor shall
13 
automatically become the Regional Governor.
14 
(b) If the position of the Regional Vice-Governor becomes permanently vacant,
15 
the member of the assembly belonging to the same political party, garnering the
16 
highest percentage of votes in the district represented shall become the vice-governor
17 
or in case of permanent disability, the second highest shall assume said position.
18 
(c) In case of a permanent vacancy in the assembly where automatic succession
19 
does not apply, the Regional Governor shall appoint to the position so vacated the
20 
nominee of the political party to which the member who caused the vacancy belonged
21 
at the time of such members' election. If the one causing the vacancy does not belong
22 
to any political party, the Regional Governor shall appoint the nominee of the majority
23 
of the members of the assembly. Provided: That the appointee has all the qualifications
24 
and none of the disqualifications as provided by this Organic Act. Provided further. That
25 
in both cases the appointee comes from the same district.
26 
(d) For purposes of this article, a permanent vacancy arises when the incumbent
27 
elective official concerned dies, voluntarily resigns, is removed from office, fills up a
28 
higher vacant office, refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, or is otherwise
29 
permanently incapacitated to exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the
30 
office.
31 
SEC. 50. Temporary Vacancies. -  (a) 
When the Regional Governor is
32 
temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as
33 
leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, the regional vice governor
34 
shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the
11


1 
former except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees which can only be
2 
exercised if the period of temporary incapacity exceeds thirty (30) working days.
3 
(b) Said temporary incapacity shall terminate upon submission to the Regional
4 
Assembly of a written declaration by the Regional Governor that he has reported back
5 
to office. In cases where the temporary incapacity is due to legal causes, the regional
6 
official concerned shall also submit necessary documents showing that said legal causes
7 
no longer exist.
8 
(c) When the incumbent Regional Governor is traveling within the country but
9 
outside his territorial jurisdiction for a period not exceeding three (3) consecutive days,
10 
he may designate in writing, the officer-in-charge of the said office. Such authorization
11 
shall specify the powers and functions that the regional official concerned shall exercise
12 
except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees.
13 
(d) In the event, however, that the Regional Governor concerned fails or refuses
14 
to issue such authorization, the Regional Vice-Governor shall have the right to assume
15 
the powers, duties and functions of the said office on the fourth day of absence of the
16 
Regional Governor, subject to the limitations provided in subsection c, hereof.
17 
(e) Except as provided above, the Regional Governor shall in no case authorize
18 
any regional official to assume the powers, duties and functions of the office, other
19 
than the Regional Vice-Governor or the highest-ranking Member of the Regional
20 
Assembly, as the case may be.
21 
SEC. 51. Approval o f Leaves o f Absence. — Leave of absence of elective
22 
officials of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera shall be approved as follows:
23 
(a) Applications for leave of absence of regional officials, provincial governor,
24 
mayor of a highly urbanized city or an independent component city shall be approved
25 
by the Regional Governor or his duly authorized representative;
26 
(b) Applications for leave of absence of other officials and employees other than
27 
those enumerated above shall follow those stipulated in the Local Government Code;
28 
and
29 
(c) Applications for leave of the Regional Governor shall be approved by the
30 
President.
31 
SEC. 52. Compensation. -  (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the Regional
32 
Governor and Regional Vice-Governor shall receive an annual salary equivalent to that
33 
of a 
department secretary and 
undersecretary, 
respectively, 
of the 
national
12


1 
government, which shall not be decreased during their tenure. No increase in the salary
2 
of the Regional Governor and Regional Vice-Governor shall take effect until after the
3 
expiration of the term of the Regional Governor and Regional Vice-Governor approving
4 
the same.
5 
(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, the Regional Speaker shall receive an
6 
annual salary equivalent to that of the Regional Governor and members of the Regional
7 
Assembly shall receive an annual salary equivalent to the salary of the Regional Vice-
8 
Governor. No increase in salary provided for by law shall take effect until after the
9 
expiration of the term of office of all members of the Regional Assembly approving the
10 
same.
11 
(c) All regional elective officials shall not receive, during their tenure, any other
12 
emoluments from the government.
13 
SEC. 53. Accountability. -  (a) Disclosure. All regional officials shall, upon their
14 
assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests,
15 
including those of their spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of
16 
age living in their households. Any member who has a potential conflict of interest that
17 
may arise from the measures filed shall notify the regional assembly. This section shall
18 
be governed by R.A. 6713 or the Code of conduct and ethical standards for public
19 
officials and employees.
20 
(b) Governing law. Discipline of Regional Elective Officials shall be governed by
21 
Chapter 4, Title Two of Book I of R.A 7160 and other applicable laws. Discipline of
22 
Members of the Regional Assembly shall be governed by their internal rules.
23 
(c) Recall. Regional elective officials may be subject to recall proceedings as
24 
provided for by Chapter 5, Title Two of Book I of R.A. 7160 and other applicable laws.
25
26 
ARTICLE VI
27 
THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
28 
SEC. 54. Executive Authority. -  The executive power in the region shall be
29 
vested in a Regional Governor. He shall exercise such powers and perform such duties
30 
and functions as provided by this Organic Act and other laws.
31 
SEC. 55. Scope o f Executive Authority. -  As chief executive of the Regional
32 
Government, the Regional Governor shall exercise control and supervision over all
33 
programs, projects, services and activities of the Regional Government and supervision
13


1 
over regional line agencies and local government units within the autonomous region
2 
subject to existing laws.
3 
SEC. 56. State o f the Region Address. -  The Regional Governor shall deliver
4 
the State of the Region Address to the Regional Assembly at the opening of its regular
5 
sessions.
6 
SEC. 57. Submission o f Regional Budget -  The Regional Governor shall
7 
submit the proposed budget to the Regional Assembly within thirty (30) days from the
8 
opening of every regular session, as the basis of the regional appropriations bill, budget
9 
of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed
10 
revenue measures.
11 
SEC. 58. Administrative Support. -  The Regional Governor and the different
12 
regional departments shall have sufficient administrative and support staff to efficiently
13 
and effectively carry out their mandates and the purposes of the regional government.
14 
SEC. 59. Mandatory Staff. -  The regional autonomous government shall have
15 
the following mandatory staff: 
(1) Regional Executive Secretary, (2) Regional
16 
Accountant, (3) Regional Budget Officer, (4) Regional Administrator, (5) Regional Legal
17 
Officer, (6) Regional Treasurer, and (7) Regional General Services Officer. In addition
18 
thereto, the Regional Governor may, subject to the approval of the Regional Assembly
19 
and availability of funds, create other offices deemed necessary.
20 
The Regional Executive Secretary and the heads of the various regional offices
21 
and employees under the executive department shall be appointed by the Regional
22 
Governor. The appointment of the heads of regional offices requires the concurrence of
23 
the majority of the members of the Regional Assembly and compliance to civil service
24 
law, rules and regulations and this Organic Act. The Regional Assembly shall act on said
25 
appointment within fifteen (15) days from the date of submission otherwise the same
26 
shall be deemed confirmed.
27 
The rank and salary grade level of the heads of the different regional
28 
departments shall be equivalent to the regional directors of regional line agencies. They
29 
shall receive compensation, allowances and other emoluments and benefits allowed by
30 
law or ordinance. With the exception of the Regional Executive Secretary, the heads of
31 
the regional departments shall be mandatory.
32 
The qualifications of regional appointive officials, their duties and functions, are as
33 
follows:
34
14


1 
1) Regional Executive Secretary
2 
(a) The Regional Executive Secretary of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera
3 
shall be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of good moral character, a
4 
holder of a college degree preferably in law, administration or any other related
5 
course from a recognized college or university, and must have acquired
6 
supervisory or managerial experience for at least five (5) years.
7 
(b) The term of office of the Regional Executive Secretary shall be co-terminus with
8 
that of the appointing authority.
9 
(c) The Regional Executive Secretary shall, subject to the control and supervision of
10 
the Regional Governor, carry out the following functions:
11 
1. Directly assist the Regional Governor in the management of the affairs
12 
pertaining to the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera;
13 
2. Implement directives, orders and decisions of the Regional Governor;
14 
3. Exercise supervision and control over the various units in the Office of the
15 
Regional Governor including their internal administrative requirements;
16 
4. Exercise supervision, in behalf of the Regional Governor, over the various
17 
agencies under the Office of the Regional Governor;
18 
5. Provide overall coordination in the operation of the Regional Executive
19 
Office;
20 
6. Determine and assign matters to the appropriate units in the Office of the
21 
Regional Governor;
22 
7. Act on matters referred to the Office of the Regional Governor coming
23 
from the various regional offices and agencies of the government;
24 
8. Provide consultative, research, fact-finding and advisory service to the
25 
Regional Governor;
26 
9. 
Assist the Regional Governor in the performance of functions pertaining
27 
to legislation;
28 
10. Assist the Regional Governor in the administration of special projects;
29 
11. Take charge of matters 
pertaining 
to 
protocol 
in the 
Regional
30 
Government and ceremonial functions;
31 
12. Provide secretarial and clerical services for the Regional Governor and
32 
other bodies;
33 
13. Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the
34 
objectives, policies and functions of the Office of the Regional Governor;
35 
and
36 
14. Perform such other functions as the Regional Governor may direct.
37
15


1 
2) Regional Accountant
2 
(a) The Regional Accountant shall be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of
3 
good moral character, certified public accountant, and must have acquired
4 
experience in the treasury or accounting service for at least five (5) years.
5 
(b) The regional accountant shall take charge of both the accounting and internal
6 
audit services of the autonomous region and shall:
7 
1. Install and maintain an internal audit system in the autonomous region;
8 
2. Prepare and submit financial statements to the Regional Governor and to
9 
the Regional Assembly;
10 
3. Apprise the Regional Assembly and other government officials on the
11 
financial condition and operations of the autonomous region;
12 
4. Certify to the availability of budgetary allotment to which expenditures
13 
and obligations may be properly charged;
14 
5. Review 
supporting 
documents 
before 
preparation 
of vouchers to
15 
determine completeness of requirements;
16 
6. Prepare statements of cash advances, liquidation, salaries, allowances,
17 
reimbursements and remittances pertaining to the autonomous region;
18 
7. Prepare statements of journal vouchers and liquidation of the same and
19 
other adjustments related thereto;
20 
8. Post individual disbursements to the subsidiary ledger and index cards;
21 
9. Maintain individual ledgers for officials and employees of the autonomous
22 
region pertaining to payrolls and deductions;
23 
10. Record and post in index cards details of purchased furniture, fixtures,
24 
and equipment, including disposal thereof, if any;
25 
11.Account for all issued requests for obligations and maintain and keep all
26 
records and reports related thereto;
27 
12. Prepare journals and the analysis of obligations and maintain and keep all
28 
records and reports related thereto; and
29 
13. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions
30 
as may be provided by law or ordinance.
31
32 
3) Regional Budget Officer
33 
(a) The Regional Budget Officer shall be a citizen of the Philippines and a
34 
Cordilleran, of good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in
35 
accounting, economics, public administration or any related course from a
36 
recognized college or university, first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent,
16


1 
and must have acquired experience in government budgeting for at least five (5)
2 
years.
3 
(b) The budget officer shall take charge of the budget office and shall:
4 
1. Prepare forms, orders, and circulars embodying instructions on budgetary
5 
and appropriation matters for the signature of the Regional Governor;
6 
2. Review and consolidate the budget proposals of different departments
7 
and offices of the Regional Government;
8 
3. Assist the Regional Governor in the preparation of the budget and during
9 
budget hearings;
10 
4. Study and evaluate budgetary implications of proposed legislation and
11 
submit comments and recommendations thereon;
12 
5. Submit periodic budgetary reports to the Department of Budget and
13 
Management;
14 
6. Coordinate with the treasurer, accountant, and the planning officer for the
15 
purpose of budgeting;
16 
7. Assist the Regional Assembly in reviewing the approved budgets of the
17 
provincial and highly urbanized cities;
18 
8. Coordinate with the regional planning officer in the formulation of the
19 
regional development plan; and
20 
9. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions
21 
as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
22
23 
4) Regional A dm inistrator
24 
(a) The Regional Administrator shall be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran,
25 
of good moral character, holder of a college degree preferably in law, public
26 
administration or any other related course from a recognized college or university
27 
and must have acquired experience in management and administration work for
28 
at least five (5) years.
29 
(b) The term of office of the Regional Administrator shall be co-terminus with that of
30 
the appointing authority.
31 
(c) Subject to the control and supervision of the Regional Governor, the Regional
32 
Administrator shall:
33 
1. Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the Regional
34 
Governor, implement the same particularly those which have to do with
35 
the management and administration-related programs and projects which
17


1 
the Regional Governor is empowered to implement and which the
2 
Regional Assembly is empowered to provide under this Organic Act;
3 
2. Assist in the coordination of the work of all the officials of the autonomous
4 
region, under the supervision, direction, and control of the Regional
5 
Governor, and for this purpose, may convene the chiefs of offices and
6 
other officials of the autonomous region;
7 
3. Establish and maintain a sound personnel program for the autonomous
8 
region designed to promote career development and uphold the merit
9 
principle in the local government service;
10 
4, Conduct a continuing organizational development of the autonomous
11 
region with the end in view of instituting effective administrative reforms;
12 
5. Be in the frontline of the delivery of administrative support services,
13 
particularly those related to the situations during and in the aftermath of
14 
man-made and natural disasters and calamities;
15 
6. Recommend to the Regional Assembly and advise the Regional Governor,
16 
as the case may be, on all other matters relative to the management and
17 
administration of the regional autonomous government; and
18 
7. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions
19 
as may be prescribed by law or by ordinance.
20
21 
5) Regional Legal Officer
22 
(a) The Regional Legal Officer shall be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran,
23 
of good moral character, member of the Philippine Bar, and must have been in
24 
the practice of law for at least five (5) years.
25 
(b) The term of office of the Regional Legal Officer shall be co-terminus with that of
26 
the appointing authority.
27 
(c) The Regional Legal Officer shall be the chief legal counsel of the regional
28 
autonomous government, shall take charge of the office of legal services, and
29 
shall perform the following:
30 
1. Formulate measures for the consideration of the Regional Assembly and
31 
provide legal assistance and support to the Regional Governor;
32 
2. Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the Regional
33 
Governor, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with
34 
programs and projects related to legal services which the Regional
35 
Governor is empowered to implement and which the Regional Assembly is
36 
empowered to provide under this Organic Act;
18


2
3
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
1
3. Recommend measures and advise the Regional Governor on all other 
matters related to upholding the rule of law;
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;
5. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions 
as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
6. In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the legal officer shall:
i. 
Represent the regional autonomous government in all civil actions and 
special proceedings wherein the autonomous region or any official 
thereof, in his official capacity, is a party;
ii. 
When required by the Regional Governor, draft ordinances, contracts, 
bonds, leases and other instruments, involving any interest of the 
autonomous region and provide comments and recommendations on 
any instrument already drawn;
Render opinion in writing on any question of law when requested to 
do so by the Regional Governor;
Investigate or cause to be investigated any official or employee of the 
Regional Government for administrative neglect or misconduct in 
office and recommend appropriate action to the Regional Governor; 
Investigate or cause to be investigated any person, firm or 
corporation holding any franchise or exercising 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;
When directed by the Regional Governor, initiate and prosecute in the 
interest of the autonomous region any civil action on any bond, lease 
or other contract upon any breach or violation thereof; and 
Review and submit recommendations on ordinances approved and 
execute orders issued.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
32 
6) Regional Treasurer
33 
(a) The Regional Treasurer shall be a citizen of the Philippines and a Cordilleran, of
34 
good moral character, holder of a college degree preferably in commerce, public
35 
administration or law from a recognized college or university, and must have
36 
acquired experience in treasury or accounting service for at least five (5) years.
19


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


1
debris, particularly during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural
2
calamities and disasters;
3
4.
Recommend and advise the Regional Governor on all matters relative to
4
general services;
5
5.
In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the General Sen/ices Officer
6
shall:
7
i.
Take custody of and be accountable for all properties, real or personal.
8
owned by the autonomous government and those granted to it in the
9
form of donation, reparation, assistance and counterpart of joint
10
projects;
11
il.
With the approval of the Regional Governor, assign building or land
12
space to regional officials, who by law, are entitled to such space.
13
Recommend to the Regional Governor reasonable rental rates for
14
Regional Government properties, whether real or personal, which will
15
be leased to public or private entities;
16
ill.
Recommend to the Regional Governor reasonable rental rates of
17
private properties which may be leased for the official use of the
18
Regional Government;
19
iv.
Maintain and supervise janitorial, security, government public buildings
20
and other real property, whether owned or leased by the Regional
21
Government;
22
V.
Collate and disseminate information regarding prices, shipping and
23
other costs of supplies and other items commonly used by the
24
Regional Government;
25
vi.
Perform archival and record management with respect to records of
26
offices and departments of the Regional Government;
27
vii.
Perform all other functions pertaining to supply and 
property
28
management heretofore performed by the Regional Government
29
Treasurer and enforce policies on records creation, maintenance, and
30
disposal; and
31
viil.
Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and
32
33
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
34
SEC. 60. Cordillera Development Council. -  There shall be a Cordillera
35
Development Council (CDC) which shall function as the main planning and advisory
36
body of the autonomous government, setting the direction of economic and social
21


1 
development of the autonomous region and through which regional development
2 
efforts shall be coordinated.
3 
SEC. 61. Composition. — The CDC, which shall be headed by the Regional
4 
Governor, shall be composed of the Regional Governor as chair, Private Sector
5 
Representative as co-chair, the Regional Director of NEDA as vice-chair, and the
6 
following as members:
7 
(a) All the provincial governors, the city and capital town mayors in ARC.
8 
(b) Two (2) members of the Regional Assembly to be designated by its presiding
9 
officer.
10 
(c) Private sector representatives of duly accredited private sector and non-
11 
government or people's organizations, provided that their composition shall not
12 
be more than one-fourth of the total membership.
13 
(d) Regional heads of line agencies who are members of the NEDA Board.
14 
(e) The Council may designate special non-voting members coming from both the
15 
public and private sectors, upon concurrence of the majority of its regular
16 
members.
17 
SEC. 62. Technical Support. -  The regional office of the National Economic and
18 
Development Authority (NEDA) shall serve as the secretariat and technical operations
19 
arm of the Council.
20 
SEC. 63. Functions. -  The Cordillera Development Council shall:
21 
(a) Coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of short-
22 
and long- term regional development plans and investment programs, regional
23 
physical framework plans and 
special development plans, 
including the
24 
formulation of policy recommendations.
25 
(b) Integrate approved development plans of provinces and cities, line agencies,
26 
state universities and colleges, government owned and controlled corporations
27 
and special development authorities in the autonomous region into the regional
28 
development plan.
29 
(c) Review, prioritize, and endorse to the autonomous government the annual and
30 
multi-year sectoral investment programs of the autonomous region for funding
31 
and implementation.
32 
(d) Review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of agency
33 
regional offices, state colleges and universities and special development
34 
authorities.
22


1 
(e) Promote and direct the inflow and allocation of private investments in the
2 
autonomous region to 
support regional 
development objectives, policies,
3 
strategies.
4 
(f) Review and endorse national plans, programs and projects proposed for
5 
implementation in the autonomous region.
6 
(g) As required by the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC), review and
7 
endorse projects of national government agencies that have impact on the
8 
region and projects of LGUs in the region requiring national government
9 
exposure which may come in the form of guarantees, national government
10 
budget appropriations or subsidies, among others.
11 
(h) Initiate and coordinate the development, funding and implementation of regional
12 
and special development projects such as those involving several agencies or
13 
LGUs.
14 
(i) Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of development projects undertaken
15 
by government agencies, local government units, state colleges and universities,
16 
government-owned and/or controlled corporations and special development
17 
authorities in the autonomous region.
18 
(j) Perform other related functions and activities as may be necessary to promote
19 
and sustain the socio-economic development of the autonomous region.
20 
SEC. 64. Creation o f Committees. -  The Council may create appropriate technical
21 
and sectoral committees to assist in its work.
22 
SEC. 65. Existing Committees. -  Existing regional coordinating committees that
23 
are created by various laws and currently attached to specific agencies, and ad-hoc
24 
program 
or 
project-based 
steering 
committees, 
such 
as, 
the 
Development
25 
Administration Committee, Economic Development Committee, Social Development
26 
Committee, Infrastructure Development Committee, Watershed and Environmental
27 
Management Committee, Committee on Indigenous Peoples' Concerns, Regional Land
28 
Use Committee, Regional Gender and Development Committee, Regional Project
29 
Monitoring Committee, Regional Competitiveness Committee, Regional Development
30 
Budget Coordinating Committee, Regional Statistical Coordination Committee, and the
31 
Cordillera Geographic Information System Network, shall be placed under the umbrella
32 
of the CDC. Secretariat work of these inter-agency committees shall continue to be
33 
provided by their mother agency.
34 
ARTICLE V II
35 
THE REGIONAL VICE-GOVERNOR
23


1 
SEC. 66. Functions. -  The Regional Vice-Governor shall assist the Regional
2 
Governor in the day to day operation of the Regional Government, and shall:
3 
1. Assume the office of the Regional Governor for the unexpired term of the
4 
latter in the event of a permanent vacancy as provided in this Organic Act;
5 
2. Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Regional
6 
Governor in cases of temporary vacancy as provided in this Organic Act;
7 
3. Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions as may be
8 
prescribed by law.
9 
The Regional Vice-Governor may be appointed to the position of head of regional
10 
office as may be created by the Regional Assembly, without the need of confirmation of
11 
the Regional Assembly and the Civil Service Commission.
12
13 
ARTICLE V III
14 
THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
15 
SEC. 67. Legislative Authority. — The legislative power of the Regional
16 
Government in the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera shall be vested in the Regional
17 
Assembly, except to the extent resen/ed by the Constitution and this Organic Act on
18 
initiative and referendum. Within its territorial jurisdiction and subject to the provisions
19 
of the Constitution and national laws, the Regional Assembly shall have legislative
20 
powers over those functions enumerated under Section 25.
21 
SEC. 68. Regional Speaker -  There shall be a Regional Speaker, who shall be
22 
elected, from among the members of the Regional Assembly, on its first regular
23 
session. The Assembly shall promulgate its rules and regulations for the conduct of its
24 
proceedings.
25 
The Speaker, as the political and administrative head of the Assembly, is
26 
responsible for the overall management of the proceedings, activities, resources,
27 
facilities and employees of the Assembly. The Speaker shall:
28 
a. Prepare the legislative agenda for every regular session, establish systems and
29 
procedures to ensure full deliberation and swift approval of measures included therein,
30 
and may, for the purpose, avail of the assistance of the Deputy Speakers, the Majority
31 
Leader, the chairpersons of the standing committees and other Members of the
32 
Regional Assembly;
24


1 
b. Conduct regular monthly caucus of all Members of the Regional Assembly or
2 
groups thereof or as often as may be necessary to discuss priority measures and to
3 
facilitate dialogue, consensus and action on issues and concerns affecting the Regional
4 
Government and the performance of its functions;
5 
c. Exercise general supervision over all committees and, in furtherance thereof,
6 
conduct regular monthly meetings with the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of all
7 
standing and special committees to set legislative targets, review performance in the
8 
attainment of targets, ensure that the priority legislative measures of committees are
9 
attuned to the legislative agenda of the Regional Assembly, and resolve such other
10 
issues and concerns that affect the operations and performance of the committees;
11 
d. Establish, as far as practicable, an efficient information management system
12 
of the secretariat utilizing among others, modern digital technology, that can:
13 
1. Facilitate access to and dissemination of data and information needed
14 
in legislation inclusive of facilitating real time translation of plenary proceedings
15 
in the major Philippine dialects and languages;
16 
2. Provide a simplified and comprehensive process of gathering, recording,
17 
storage and retrieval of data and information relating to activities and
18 
proceedings of the Regional Assembly;
19 
3. Sustain a public information program that will provide accessible, timely
20 
and accurate information relating to the Regional Assembly, its Members and
21 
officers, its committees and its legislative concerns inclusive of facilitating, as far
22 
as practicable, broadcast coverage of plenary and committee proceedings;
23
24 
e. Establish an efficient and effective system to monitor and evaluate the
25 
performance of legislative tasks and duties of the Regional Assembly, its Members and
26 
its committees;
27 
f. Designate a Member as temporary presiding officer after informing the Deputy
28 
Speakers: Provided, That any such designation shall be effective for one session day
29 
only;
30 
g. Take appropriate measures as may be deemed advisable or as the Regional
31 
Assembly may direct, to preserve order and decorum in the session hall, the galleries,
32 
lobbies, chambers, offices, corridors and premises of the Regional Assembly;
25


1 
h. Sign all acts, resolutions, memorials, writs, warrants and subpoenae that may
2 
be issued by or upon order of the Regional Assembly;
3 
i. Perform administrative functions such as, among others:
4 
1. Appointment of personnel of the Regional Assembly with authority to
5 
delegate this power;
6 
2. Suspension, dismissal or imposition of other disciplinary measures on
7 
the personnel of the Regional Assembly in accordance with Civil Service rules:
8 
Provided, That the suspension or dismissal of the Regional Secretary General and
9 
the Regional Sergeant-at-Arms shall take effect only upon the concurrence of the
10 
majority of all the Members of the Regional Assembly;
11 
3. Consolidation or splitting of vacant positions carrying salaries and
12 
wages which may be increased or reduced in the process, or creation of new
13 
positions in accordance with the Regional Appropriations Act: Provided, That the
14 
total amount involved shall not exceed the total amount appropriated for the
15 
salaries and wages of the personnel of the Regional Assembly;
16 
4. Implementation of merit-based policies and programs on personnel
17 
recruitment, training and development, promotions, incentives and benefits to
18 
ensure that the Regional Assembly has a corps of competent professionals able
19 
to provide needed legislative support services; and
20 
5. Review, approve, and sign contracts entered into by the Regional
21 
Assembly, with the authority to delegate this power.
22
23 
j. Prepare the annual budget of the Regional Assembly;
24 
k. Prepare, in consultation with the appropriate committee of the Regional
25 
Assembly, the rules and regulations governing public access to personal data and
26 
related information, including statements of assets and liabilities, of Members of the
27 
Regional Assembly;
28 
I. Develop through an appropriate entity of the Regional Assembly a system for
29 
drug testing, which may provide for the testing of any Member, officer, or employee of
30 
the Regional Assembly, and otherwise shall be comparable in scope to the system for
31 
drug testing in the executive branch of the Regional Government. Provided, That the
32 
expenses of the system may be paid from applicable accounts of the Regional Assembly
33 
for official expenses; and
26


1 
0. Require the submission of performance reports at the end of every regular
2 
session and fiscal year from the committee chairpersons, the Regional Secretary
3 
General and the Regional Sergeant-at-Arms, and such other reports as may be required
4 
from all concerned officers and offices of the Regional Assembly.
5 
The Regional Speaker shall be the permanent head of delegation and
6 
representative of the Regional Assembly in all local or international parliamentary
7 
gatherings and organizations: Provided, That Regional Speaker may designate any
8 
Member of the Regional Assembly to be the representative of the Regional Speaker and
9 
may also determine, upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, in consultation
10 
with the Minority Leader, who shall constitute the Assembly's delegation to any local or
11 
international conference or forum of parliamentarians and legislators and the secretariat
12 
support staff to be mobilized for the purpose.
13 
SEC. 69. Enactment o f Laws and Resolutions. -  The Regional Assembly shall
14 
enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of
15 
the region and its inhabitants as well as for the efficient and effective operation of the
16 
Regional Government.
17 
SEC. 70. Creation, Division, Merger and Abolition o f Local Government
18 
Units. -  The Regional Assembly may, by law create, divide, merge or abolish
19 
municipalities or barangays. The municipalities or barangays created, divided or merged
20 
shall be entitled to their appropriate share in the national taxes or Internal Revenue
21 
Allotment (IRA). Provided, that it shall be approved by a majority of the votes cast in a
22 
plebiscite in the political units directly affected.
23 
SEC. 71. Administrative Support. — The Regional Assembly shall have an
24 
administrative and support staff. Each member shall have at least three (3) confidential
25 
Legislative Assistants whose qualifications, rank and salary grade level shall be
26 
equivalent to regional executive assistants. Their term of service shall however be co-
27 
terminus with their overseer.
28 
SEC. 72. Regular and Special Sessions. -  The Regional Assembly shall start
29 
its regular session on the first Monday of July, and by resolution fix the day, time and
30 
place of its regular sessions, which shall be held at least once a week. However, the
31 
Assembly may be called to a special session by the Regional Speaker or the Regional
32 
Governor whenever necessary and a notice of meeting shall be sent to the member's
33 
place of residence at least twenty-four (24) hours before the special session is held.
34 
Unless otherwise concurred in by two-thirds (2/3) votes of the members, there being a
35 
quorum, no other matters may be considered at a special session except those stated in
27


1 
the notice. The Regional Assembly may invite the President and other government
2 
officials to address it.
3 
SEC. 73. Sessions and Quorum. — A majority of all the members of the
4 
Regional Assembly shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may
5 
adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members in such
6 
manner, and under such penalties as the Assembly may provide in its rules.
7 
On the first regular session following the election of its members, and within
8 
ninety (90) days thereafter, the Regional Assembly shall adopt or update its rules of
9 
proceedings which shall include, among other things, the organization of the Assembly
10 
and the election of its officers, creation of standing committees, the time, place and
11 
manner of convening its regular and special sessions, the conduct and discipline of its
12 
members, the conduct and discipline of every person present during its session, the
13 
preparation and publication of its journal, the determination of quorum, and the
14 
necessary votes to pass any measure, and recall proceedings in accordance with the
15 
Local Government Code.
16 
SEC. 74. Law. — (a) Every bill shall embrace only one (1) subject which shall be
17 
expressed in the title thereof.
18 
(b) No bill shall become a law unless it has passed three readings on separate days,
19 
and printed copies thereof in its final form have been distributed to the members
20 
three (3) days before its passage, except when the Regional Governor certifies to
21 
the necessity of its immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency
22 
affecting the region, or the component provinces, cities, municipalities or barangays.
23 
(c) On third reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed, and the vote
24 
thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the yeas and nays entered in
25 
the Journal.
26 
(d) Every bill passed by the Regional Assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be
27 
presented to the Regional Governor. If the Regional Governor approves the
28 
same, the Regional Governor shall sign it, otherwise, the Regional Governor shall
29 
veto it and return the same to the Regional Assembly with the objections. The
30 
Regional Governor shall communicate the veto on any bill to the Regional
31 
Assembly within ten (10) days from receipt thereof, otherwise, it shall become a
32 
law as if it was signed.
33 
Upon receipt of the veto, the Regional Assembly shall enter the objections in its
34 
journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds
28


1 
(2/3) of all the members of the Regional Assembly shall agree to pass the bill, it
2 
shall become a law.
3 
(e) The Regional Governor shall have the power to veto any particular item or items
4 
in an appropriation or revenue, but the veto shall not affect the item or items to
5 
which the Regional Governor does not object.
6 
SEC. 75. People's Question Hour. -  There shall be a people's hour at least once a
7 
month or as often as the rules of the Regional Assembly may provide, which shall be
8 
Included in the Order of Business, during which, upon initiative of any Member of the
9 
Cabinet, may, with the consent of the Regional Governor, or upon the request of the
10 
Regional Assembly, appear and answer questions and interpellations by members of the
11 
Assembly on any matter pertaining to the Cabinet Member's department.
12 
The Regional Assembly or any of its committees may conduct inquiries in aid of
13 
legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights and
14 
dignity of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.
15 
SEC. 76. Im m unity from  S u it — No member shall be questioned or be held liable
16 
in any other place for any speech or debate in the Regional Assembly or in any
17 
committee thereof.
18 
SEC. 
77. 
Appropriations Bill. — The Regional Assembly shall 
pass an
19 
appropriations bill for the ensuing year at or before the end of each year, based on the
20 
budget of expenditures and sources of funds submitted to it by the Regional Governor.
21 
(a) No provision or enactment shall be embraced in the regional appropriations bill,
22 
unless it relates specifically to some particular appropriations therein. Any such
23 
provision or enactment shall be limited in its operation to the appropriation to
24 
which it relates.
25 
(b) The procedure in approving appropriations for the Regional Assembly shall
26 
strictly follow the same procedure for approving appropriations for the regional
27 
executive department.
28 
(c) A special appropriations bill shall specify the purpose for which it is intended, and
29 
shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by the Regional
30 
Treasurer or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposal therein.
31 
(d) No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations.
32 
(e) The Regional Assembly may not increase the appropriations recommended by
33 
the Regional Governor for the operation of the Regional Government as specified
34 
in the budget. The form, content and manner of preparation of the budget shall
35 
be prescribed by regional law: Provided, however, that pending the enactment of
29


1 
such a regional law, the budgeting process of the Regional Government shall be
2 
governed by existing national laws and rules and regulations prescribed by the
3 
Department of Budget and Management
4 
SEC. 78. Expenditure o f Public Funds. -  No money shall be paid out of the
5 
regional treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by regional law.
6 
(a) No money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid or used, directly or
7 
indirectly, for the use, benefit or support, of any sect, church, denomination,
8 
sectarian institution, or system of religion or for the use, benefit or support of
9 
any priest, preacher, minister or other religious teacher or dignitary as such,
10 
except when such priest, preacher, minister or dignitary is assigned to the
11 
regional police or government orphanage and rehabilitation centers or similar
12 
institutions.
13 
(b) All money collected on any regional tax levied for a special purpose shall be
14 
treated as a special fund and paid out for such purpose only. If the purpose for
15 
which a special fund was created has been fulfilled or abandoned, the balance, if
16 
any, shall be transferred to the general fund of the Regional Government.
17 
SEC. 79. Certified True Copies o f Law. — The Regional Assembly shall, within ten
18 
(10) working days from approval thereof, submit to the President and to both Houses of
19 
Congress a certified true copy of all laws and resolutions it passed.
20 
SEC. 80. Creation o f Offices. -  The Regional Assembly may create such other
21 
offices and positions as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of the regional
22 
government subject to availability of funds.
23 
SEC. 81. Program for Development. -  Subject to national laws and, sound public
24 
administration principles, exercising the corporate powers of the Regional Government
25 
under the Constitution and RA 7160, the Regional Assembly shall evolve a program for
26 
generating development funds to accelerate social and economic development in the
27 
region. The Regional Government shall implement the same, after conducting public
28 
consultation. Provided, that when regional revenues are insufficient, the difference shall
29 
be funded by the national government.
30
31 
SEC. 82. Approval o f Plans. -  The Regional Assembly shall approve by ordinance
32 
the recommended regional physical framework plan, the regional development plan, the
33 
regional development investment program, the regional annual investment plan and
34 
regional annual budget within the prescribed timetable.
30


1 
SEC. 83. Enactment o f Necessary Legislation. -  When the need arises, the
2 
Regional Assembly shall enact laws and necessary legislative measures that shall
3 
strengthen and supplement the implementation of national laws, devolved functions
4 
and address conflicting laws.
6 
ARTICLE IX
7 
PATRIMONY, ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT
8 
SEC. 84. Coordination and Cooperation. -  The Regional Government, with the
9 
support of the national government, shall, pursuant to regional autonomy and poverty
10 
alleviation initiate, stimulate, facilitate, support and coordinate development in the
11 
region towards attaining equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; a
12 
sustained increase in the amount of goods and services available to Cordillerans and an
13 
expanding productivity and income as the key to raising the quality of life for all:
14 
a. The national government shall provide financial support and assistance to the
15 
Autonomous Region of the Cordillera by appropriating such sums as may be
16 
necessary to accelerate the development of the autonomous region, on top of
17 
the Internal Revenue 
Allotment (IRA) 
provided therewith and the Local
18 
Government Units as well as the allocations already provided through the
19 
regional line agencies.
20 
b. The national government shall consult and coordinate with the autonomous
21 
Regional Government before programs and projects are undertaken in the
22 
autonomous region.
23 
SEC. 85. Cordillera Development Plan. -  The Regional Government through the
24 
Cordillera Development Council shall formulate its development plans taking into
25 
consideration the Cordilleran's unique needs and aspirations, consistent with national
26 
development goals. The Development Plan shall include the promotion of growth and
27 
full employment, human development, and address social and economic inequities that
28 
have resulted from decades of neglect, historical injustice, poverty and inequality.
29
30 
SEC. 86. Control and Supervision over Natural Resources. -  The Regional
31 
Government shall have control and supervision over natural resources in accordance to
32 
this Organic Act.
33 
SEC. 87. Preferential Rights o f Cordillerans to Utilize and Develop Natural
34 
Resources. -  The exploration, development, utilization, and enjoyment of natural
31


1 
resources shall be allowed to citizens of the Philippines and to private enterprises,
2 
including corporations, cooperatives, and similar collective organizations with at least
3 
sixty percent (60%) of their capital investment or capital stocks directly controlled or
4 
owned 
by 
Filipinos: 
Provided, 
that 
priority 
be given 
to Cordillerans 
in the
5 
implementation of programs, projects, and activities related to these natural resources
6 
in the region and shall comply with the provisions of the Constitution and this Organic
7 
Act.
8 
SEC. 88. Comprehensive Framework for Sustainable Development. — The
9 
Regional Government shall develop a comprehensive framework for sustainable
10 
development through the proper conservation, utilization and development of natural
11 
resources. Such framework shall guide the Regional Government in adopting programs,
12 
policies, and mechanisms that focus on the protection of the environment, and
13 
reduction of vulnerability from climate change.
14 
SEC. 89. Development o f Lands 18° Above in Slope. -  The Regional
15 
Government in partnership with the communities, especially the indigenous peoples or
16 
indigenous cultural communities, and their government units, and support of the
17 
national government shall adopt measures for the development of communities
18 
occupying lands eighteen degrees in slope or over, by providing the necessary
19 
infrastructure, financial and technical support.
20 
SEC. 90. 
Transportation and Communication System. -  The Regional
21 
Government shall, 
in coordination with the 
national government, establish a
22 
transportation and communication system interconnecting the various areas of the
23 
autonomous region with each other and to other regions adjacent to the Cordilleras.
24 
Likewise, the Regional Government in close coordination with component local
25 
government units shall plan, construct, modernize and maintain rural and urban
26 
infrastructure facilities and utilities, including alternative transport systems within critical
27 
environments.
28
29 
SEC. 91. Agrarian Reform. -  Subject to ecological considerations, the Regional
30 
Government shall adopt and implement a comprehensive rural agrarian reform
31 
program, as well as an urban development program consistent with the Constitution
32 
and national laws and policies to ensure the just and sustainable utilization of land
33 
within its jurisdiction.
32


1 
SEC. 92. Environmental Protection. -  The Regional Government shall develop
2 
standards pertaining to the protection, conservation, and enhancement, of the
3 
environment 
and 
natural 
resources, 
appropriate 
to 
the 
socio- 
cultural 
and
4 
environmental uniqueness of the Cordillera.
5 
SEC. 93. Transfer o f Existing Nature Reserves and Protected Areas. — The
6 
management and protection of nature reserves and aquatic parks, forests, watershed
7 
reservations, and other protected areas in the Autonomous Region that have already
8 
been defined by and under the authority of the National Government shall be
9 
transferred to the Regional Government.
10 
The 
Regional 
Transition 
Committee 
composed 
of the 
Regional 
Governor,
11 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Commission on Indigenous
12 
Peoples, representatives of IPs and ICCs affected, as well as other relevant government
13 
agencies shall cause the process of transferring these areas including the conduct of
14 
surveys of all affected areas and the planning and transition for each and every
15 
protected area. Such process shall be completed within a period not exceeding two
16 
years.
17 
SEC. 94. Renewable and other Energy Resources and Extractive Industries.
18 
-  Policies on Renewabie and other energy resources and extractive industries shali be
19 
drawn up by the Regional Assembly in accordance with its Comprehensive Sustainable
20 
Development Plan, as well as its over-all medium-term and long- term Regional
21 
Development Plan.
22 
SEC. 95. Financial and Technical Assistance Agreements. -  The Regional
23 
Governor shall initiate and recommend to the President the applications for financial
24 
and technical assistance agreements covering mineral resources within the region
25 
SEC. 96. Participation in National Development Planning. -  To ensure that
26 
the Regional development plans are reflected in the nationai deveiopment plans, the
27 
Regional Government shall participate in national development planning. The Regional
28 
Governor shall be a member of the Board of the National Economic and Deveiopment
29 
Authority.
30 
ARTICLE X
31 
SOURCES OF REVENUES AND OTHER FISCAL MATTERS
32 
SEC. 97. Share from  the National Revenues. -  To conserve, protect and
33 
develop the national patrimony and heritage located in the Autonomous Region of the
34 
Cordiilera, and devolved to the region by this Organic Act, and to fund its operations,
33


1 
the Regional Government shall have a share of the national revenues which include the
2 
following;
3 
(a) Three percent (3% ) o f the National Internal Revenue Taxes. The Regional
4 
Government shall have a share in the national internal revenue taxes equivalent
5 
to 3 percent based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current
6 
fiscal year. Eighty percent (80%) of such share shall be appropriated in the
7 
annual regional budget for development projects. The internal revenue allotment
8 
share of the Regional Government shall be released directly to the Regional
9 
Government Treasurer and shall not be subject to any lien or holdback that may
10 
be imposed by the national government for whatever purpose.
11 
(b) Forty percent (40%) Share o f the National Wealth Tax. The Regional
12 
Government shall have a separate forty percent (40%) share of the gross
13 
collections 
in 
the 
preceding 
fiscal 
year 
from 
mining 
taxes, 
royalties,
14 
environmental services, forestry and fishery charges, energy production charges,
15 
and such other taxes, fees and charges, including related surcharges, interests
16 
and fines derived from the utilization and development of the national wealth
17 
within its territorial jurisdiction. Provided that the share in national wealth shall
18 
be used for the preservation and further development of the environment.
19
20 
The Regional Government shall have a share of one and one-half percent (1.5%) of
21 
the gross sales or receipts derived from the utilization and development of the national
22 
wealth within their territorial jurisdiction. This provision shall be applicable to all
23 
corporations, partnership, individuals and other entities including government agencies
24 
and government owned or controlled corporations engaged in the utilization and
25 
development of the national wealth within the region irrespective of existing contrary
26 
laws, rules and regulations of national application.
27 
The share in the preceding paragraph shall be distributed in the following manner:
28 
(1) Province / Highly Urbanized City -  Twenty percent (20%)
29 
(2) Component City/ Municipality -  Forty percent (40%)
30 
(3) Barangay -  Thirty percent (30%)
31 
(4) Region -  Ten percent (10%)
32
33 
(c) Two percent (2%) share out o f the Economic Zones Tax. The Regional
34 
Government shall have a separate two percent (2%) share out of the five
35 
percent (5%) final tax on gross income earned or equivalent to forty percent
34


1 
(40%) of total tax paid by businesses within the economic zones found in the
2 
Cordillera, in addition to the existing shares of the local government units of two
3 
percent (2%).
4 
(d) Twenty percent (20%) Share o f Excess in Value Added Tax. The ARC shall have
5 
a separate twenty percent (20%) share of the excess in VAT collections from the
6 
immediately preceding year within the territorial jurisdiction of the autonomous
7 
region. The fund shall support cottage industry programs.
8 
Local Government Units shall have a separate twenty percent (20%) share of the
9 
excess in VAT collections from the immediately preceding year.
10 
(e) Fifteen percent (15%) Share o f Total Excise Tax. The ARC shall have a separate
11 
fifteen percent (15%) share of the total excise tax collection on all products
12 
subject to excise tax within the territorial jurisdiction of the autonomous region
13 
for the second calendar year preceding the year of distribution, in addition to the
14 
existing shares of the local government units.
15 
Local Government Units shall have a separate fifteen percent (15%) share from the
16 
total excise tax collection on locally manufactured virginia-type cigarettes for the second
17 
year preceding the year of distribution.
18 
(0 Fifteen percent (15%) Share o f Incremental Excise Tax in Burley and Native
19 
Tobacco Products. The Regional Government shall have a separate fifteen
20 
percent (15% share of the excise tax collected on burley and native tobacco
21 
products collected within the region.
22 
Local Government Units shall have a separate fifteen percent (15%) share of the
23 
excise tax collected on burley and native tobacco products.
24 
(g) Forty percent (40%) Share o f Renewable and other energy Tax. The Regional
25 
Government shall have a separate forty percent (40%) of the special privilege
26 
tax on Renewable and other energy resources developed for the maintenance of
27 
watersheds and social and economic development of the upstream host
28 
communities.
29
30 
Local Government Units' share from the renewable and other energy resources tax
31 
shall be based on the computation provided under the Local Government Code (RA
32 
7160).
33 
(h) Three percent (3%) of net income of Philippine Amusement and Gaming
34 
Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for
35


1 
construction and maintenance of school buildings, hospitals and related
2 
structures and services.
3 
(i) Shares in future tax impositions by the national government.
4 
SEC. 98. Downstream Benefits. -  The ARC shall be entitled to one and one-half
5 
percent (1.5%) of the gross receipts from the utilization of national wealth sourced or
6 
emanating from the Autonomous Region by persons, individual or juridical entities
7 
operating outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region.
8 
SEC. 99. Sources o f Regional Government Revenues. — The ARC shall be
9 
entitled to the following sources of revenues:
10 
a. Fees and charges imposed by the Regional Government;
11 
b. Taxes, fees, or charges for the registration of motor vehicles and for the
12 
issuances of all kinds of licenses or permit for the driving thereof, except tricycles
13 
which shall be registered with the city or municipality within whose territorial
14 
boundaries they are operated;
15 
c. Shares and revenue generated from the operations of public utilities within the
16 
autonomous region;
17 
d. Appropriations, shares in the internal revenue taxes, block grants, and other
18 
budgetary allocations coming 
from the central 
government or national
19 
government, and
20 
e. Block grants derived from economic agreements or conventions entered into or
21 
authorized 
by 
the 
Regional 
Assembly, 
donations, endowments, 
foreign
22 
assistance, and other forms of aid, subject to the pertinent provisions of the
23 
Constitution.
24 
SEC. 100. Power o f Taxation. -  The ARC shall have the power to create its own
25 
sources of revenues and to levy fees, charges and taxes subject to such guidelines and
26 
limitations of the Constitution and this Act, consistent with the basic policy of local
27 
autonomy. It shall likewise have the power to grant incentives or exemption on fees
28 
and charges which it is empowered to impose under this Act.
29
30 
SEC. 101. Situs o f Taxation. -  All corporations, partnerships, and other entities,
31 
including government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations directly
32 
engaged in business in the region shall pay their corresponding taxes, fees, and
33 
charges to the province, city, municipality or barangays where such establishments are
34 
conducting their business operations irrespective of the location of their principal or
35 
main offices.
36


1 
SEC. 102. Appropriations from the National Government. -  The national
2 
government shall continue to provide appropriations for the regular operations and
3 
programs of devolved line agencies in the region to be prepared by the Autonomous
4 
Region of the Cordillera and incorporated under the General Appropriations Act. The
5 
National Government shall provide appropriations for the mandatory organizational
6 
structure and positions of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera and the latter may
7 
access other special purpose funds appropriated in the national budget.
8 
SEC. 103. Donations to the Regional Government — Donations or grants to the
9 
region to be used in undertaking projects in health, education, culture, youth and sports
10 
development, housing, science and technology, and in economic development, shall be
11 
deductible in full in determining the taxable income of the donor or grantor. Provided,
12 
that the validation and certification processes for such donations or grants shall have
13 
been done according to regional law.
14 
SEC. 104. Trade Agreements. -  The Regional Governor, in accordance with the
15 
provisions of the Constitution and national laws, and upon the recommendation of the
16 
Cordillera Development Council may enter into 
agreements or trade compacts and
17 
contract loans subject to the ratification of the Regional Assembly to generate grants
18 
and foreign loans for development of the region.
19 
SEC. 105. Lim itations on Contracting o f Loans. -  The Regional Governor may
20 
contract loans only in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and national
21 
laws and subject to the approval of the Regional Assembly.
22 
SEC. 106. Banks and other financial institutions. -  The ARC shall encourage
23 
the establishment of banks and other financial institutions and their branches to
24 
facilitate the accumulation of capital and investment and the delivery of credit
25 
assistance to business in the region.
26
27 
ARTICLE XI
28 
AGRICULTURE, AGRARIAN REFORM,
29 
TRADE AND INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND COOPERATIVE
30 
SEC. 107. Agrarian Reform and Sustainable Agricultural and Fisheries
31 
Development. -  Consistent with applicable laws, the Regional Government shall, as a
32 
basic policy, promote agrarian reform and sustainable agricultural development within
33 
the principles of social equity and poverty alleviation, food security and food sufficiency,
34 
global competitiveness, fair trade, rational use of resources.
37


1 
(a) The Regional Government shall ensure that basic agricultural support
2 
services and infrastructure be accessible to the small and marginalized
3 
farmers and fisher folks. It shall likewise promote agribusiness and full
4 
employment based on a sound agricultural development and agrarian reform.
5 
(b) The Regional Government shall put special emphasis on production towards
6 
self-sufficiency of staple food commodities and shall at all times guarantee
7 
the availability, accessibility and affordability of safe food commodities.
8 
(c) The Regional Government shall work on the improvement of the quality and
9 
value of raw and processed agri-based products as a means to enhance
10 
competitiveness of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the domestic and
11 
global markets.
12 
(d) The Regional Government shall formulate and implement measures to
13 
promote indigenous concept of farming and protect the farmers from unfair
14 
trade practices and unfair competition.
15 
(e) The Regional Government shall ensure the equitable and rational distribution
16 
of public resources and investments in order to obtain the optimum returns
17 
on investments and to benefit a greater number of constituents.
18 
(f) The Regional Government shall always consider the limited carrying capacity
19 
of the region's natural and agricultural resources in the development of
20 
agricultural and fisheries programs and interventions.
21 
SEC. 108. Development o f Water Resources. -  The Regional Government
22 
shall give top priority to the conservation, protection, testing, utilization and
23 
development of water resources for agriculture, fisheries development, domestic water
24 
supply and power development. It shall enact appropriate legislation which shall
25 
enhance, develop, conserve, and protect natural fishery resources especially on specie
26 
endemic to the Cordillera.
27 
SEC. 109. Promoting the Rights o f Fisher Folks. — The Regional Government
28 
shall recognize, promote, and protect the rights and welfare of fisher folks, their
29 
associations and cooperatives. The provinces and cities concerned shall support to
30 
subsistence fisher folk through adequate funds, appropriate technology and research,
31 
marketing assistance, and other support services like fishery processing facilities and
32 
access to credit.
33 
SEC. 110. Agriculture Production. -  The Regional Government shall pursue the
34 
following strategies to develop and increase agricultural productivity.
35 
(a) Pursue a multidisciplinary research, development and extension activities to
36 
produce and promote technologies and invent machinery and facilities, that will
38


1 
be used to improve productivity and product quality, reduce cost of production,
2 
enhance value-addition and improve processing, and enhance abilities to protect
3 
the environment and agricultural resources;
4 
(b) Initiate, encourage and give highest priority support to small and medium
5 
agribusiness enterprises and industries with linkages to agriculture. It shall
6 
ensure the allocation of adequate public investments to establish adequate
7 
support-agricultural infrastructure and facilities to sustain such ventures;
8 
(c) Formulate and implement product standards and regulatory rules that will ensure
9 
the production, processing, distribution and marketing of safe and globally-
10 
competitive products, and simultaneously promote environmental conservation;
11 
and
12 
(d) Ensure that all sectors involved in the [production, processing and marketing of
13 
food and non- food products shall strictly adhere to appropriate existing laws and
14 
regulations on the proper utilization and disposal of synthetic and chemical
15 
inputs and materials, and industrial and toxic wastes. Relative to this, the
16 
Regional Government shall pursue and encourage organic methods of agriculture
17 
in a day.
18 
SEC. 111. Prevent Flight o f Labor and Capital. -  To promote investments and
19 
employment and to prevent flight of capital and labor from the region, the Regional
20 
Government shall adopt measures:
21 
(a) Against 
monopolies, 
cartels 
and 
unfair 
competition 
in 
public 
utilities,
22 
development, trading and similar concerns. It may, in the interest of regional
23 
welfare and security, establish and operate pioneering public utilities. Upon
24 
payment of just compensation, it may transfer the ownership of such utilities to
25 
cooperatives or other collective organizations; and
26 
(b) To initiate, encourage and support industrialization in the region, taking into
27 
account the culture and capabilities of the people of the area to control or
28 
manage their resources, the ecological needs of the area and the protection,
29 
conservation and development of 
resources.
30
31 
SEC. 112. Eco-cultural Tourism. — Consistent with the preservation of cultural
32 
heritage and the protection of ecology, the Regional Government shall promote eco-
33 
cultural tourism in the region. Sites with historical, scientific, cultural significance
34 
including natural and man-made landmarks and scenic vistas shall likewise be
35 
preserved, maintained and protected.
39


1 
SEC. 113. 
Promote Economic Zones. -  The Regional Government shall
2 
encourage, promote and support the establishment and development of economic
3 
zones, industrial and trade centers, and airports, in strategic areas and growth centers
4 
in the region, including the necessary support infrastructure in accordance with land
5 
use and other environmental considerations.
6 
SEC. 114. Marketing and Exportation o f Indigenous Products. -  The Regional
7 
Government shall, in coordination with local government units, encourage investments,
8 
development, marketing and exportation of indigenous and other local products in
9 
accordance with its development goals and priorities.
10 
SEC. 115. Cooperatives. -  The Regional Government shall promote cooperatives
11 
registered with the Cooperative Development Authority as tools for economic
12 
development, social justice, and people empowerment to initiate policies and develop
13 
mechanisms to enjoin the participation of the banking sector and financial institutions in
14 
the delivery of credit assistance for the establishment and building of rural enterprises
15 
and small-medium enterprises (SMEs).
16
17 
ARTICLE X II
18 
EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
19 
LANGUAGE, ARTS AND CULTURE AND SPORT
20 
SEC. 116. Regional Educational Policies. — The Regional Government shall
21 
formulate educational policies to preserve, safeguard and develop cultural heritage
22 
guided by the following plans and programs:
23 
(a) The establishment of educational institutions, colleges and universities which
24 
shall enjoy fiscal and administrative autonomy but subject to regional laws.
25 
Existing educational institutions, colleges and universities shall continue to be
26 
governed by their respective charters;
27 
(b) The development of curricular programs relevant to the preservation and
28 
development of cultural heritage and responsive to the social, economic, political
29 
and moral needs of the Cordillerans;
30 
(c) The adoption and enactment of educational policies that shall recognize, support,
31 
develop and promote existing indigenous system of learning; and
32 
(d) The creation of Regional Educational Board that will supervise, govern and
33 
intervene in the establishment, adoption and implementation of educational
40


1 
policies and programs of both formal and informal education for schools, colleges
2 
and universities in the region.
3 
SEC. 117. Education w ith Highest Budget Allocation. -  The Regional
4 
Government shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education.
5 
SEC. 118. Exemption from Taxes and Duties. — Private educational institutions,
6 
colleges and universities shall enjoy the protection and support of the Regional
7 
Government. All revenues and assets of non-stock, non-profit educational institutions
8 
used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes shall be exempt from
9 
taxes and duties.
10 
SEC. 119. Creation o f Regional Scholarship Committee for Education. -  The
11 
Regional Government shall assist the national government to provide free basic
12 
education and shall likewise endeavor to provide free tertiary education through
13 
scholarship programs, subsidies, research grants and other incentives to poor, gifted,
14 
and deserving individuals. Towards this end, there shall be created a Regional
15 
Scholarship Committee for Education.
16 
SEC. 120. Rights o f Teachers and Parents to Organize. -  The right of teachers,
17 
employees, students and parents to organize themselves and to participate in school
18 
policy and decision-making shall be guaranteed.
19 
SEC. 121. Culture Sensitive Education. -  The educational system in the region
20 
shall develop a program, research, instruction and extension that will promote
21 
consciousness and appreciation of the ethnic identity of the people in the region and
22 
shall provide a better understanding of their cultural heritage for the attainment of
23 
national unity and harmony in all levels of education. It shall provide, promote, enhance
24 
or adopt a curriculum in all levels that includes Cordillera languages, customs and
25 
traditions and other indigenous knowledge systems and practices, as may be applicable.
26
27 
SEC. 122. State Colleges and Universities. -  State colleges and universities in
28 
the region shall form part of the regional educational sub-system of the autonomous
29 
region and shall continue to enjoy fiscal and institutional autonomy, continue to be
30 
governed by their respective charters and enjoy support of the Regional Government.
31 
(a) The Regional Government shall be represented in the board of regents or
32 
trustees in state universities and colleges in the region.
33 
(b) The budget of state colleges and universities in the region while prepared
34 
separately shall form part the budget of the Regional Government when
41


1 
presented to congress for approval. The state colleges and universities shall
2 
continue to receive funding from the national government while the Regional
3 
Government shall provide additional funding.
4 
(c) The Regional Government shall capacitate state colleges and universities in order
5 
to provide assistance to regional development.
6 
SEC. 123. School Charters. -  Subject to the general supervision of the Regional
7 
Government, all schools with charters shall continue to be governed by their respective
8 
charters.
9 
SEC. 124. Priority on Indigenous and Appropriate Technology. — The
10 
management of scientific and indigenous research and appropriate technology on all
11 
levels of education including research institutions shall be given priority by the Regional
12 
Government.
13 
SEC. 125. Intellectual Property Rights. -  Incentives and safeguards for
14 
intellectual property rights, and assistance in the registration of patents and copyrights
15 
shall be accorded to Cordillera artists, writers, scientists, researchers and inventors.
16 
SEC. 126. Medium o f Instruction. -  The Regional Government shall retain English
17 
and Filipino as a medium of instruction in all levels of education. Consistent with its
18 
regional and cultural identity, and whenever possible, it shall adopt a system of multi-
19 
lingual or mother tongue-based approach in basic education to strengthen and enrich
20 
the various languages and dialects in the region as well as the national language as
21 
maybe appropriate.
22 
SEC. 127. Sports Development. -  The Regional Government shall design and
23 
implement sports development programs, and indigenous games and sports which shall
24 
be a cooperative responsibility of the school, the community, and the government.
25
26 
SEC. 128. Cultural Heritage Center. -  The Regional Government shall establish a
27 
Cordillera Commission for the Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage to
28 
promote, research, document, coordinate with other groups and institutions and
29 
establish and maintain a data bank on all indigenous matters.
30
31 
ARTICLE X III
32 
SOCIAL JUSTICE, HEALTH AND WELFARE
42


1 
SEC. 129. Measures on Social Protection. -  The Regional Government commits
2 
itself to social protection and shall adopt measures to:
3 
(a) Empower and improve the quality of life of the poor, disadvantaged,
4 
marginalized, and vulnerable individuals, families, sectors and communities of
5 
the region;
6 
(b) Reduce or eradicate poverty to ensure that all Cordillerans are free from all
7 
forms of deprivation, vulnerability, and abuse;
8 
(c) Create equal opportunities for assistance and protection for all Cordillerans;
. 9 
(d) Promote gender and development (GAD) through the creation, adoption and
10 
sustainability of programs and policies that are gender sensitive; and
11 
(e) Enact measures and develop programs that will protect the people from any
12 
threat of violence and exploitation, eliminate trafficking in persons and mitigate
13 
pressures for involuntary migration and servitude of persons, not only to support
14 
trafficked persons but more importantly, to ensure their recovery, rehabilitation
15 
and reintegration into the mainstream of society.
16 
SEC. 130. Equality o f Employment Opportunities. -  The Regional Government
17 
shall undertake steps to protect the labor sector and promote equality of employment
18 
opportunities for all. Towards this end, it shall provide for:
19 
(a) Participation of the Regional Government in the regional wage board in working
20 
out periodic adjustments and rational standardization of compensation rates to
21 
ensure a sustainable and decent wage for all workers;
22 
(b) Profit sharing schemes that recognize the right of workers to a just share in the
23 
profits of businesses, provide incentives thereof, and the right of the enterprise
24 
to reasonable returns on investments;
25 
(c) Protection of workers against unhealthy and unsafe working conditions; and
26 
(d) Mandatory 
corporate 
social 
responsibility 
towards 
employees 
and 
host
27 
community.
28
29 
SEC. 131. Hiring o f Qualified Cordillerans. -  The Regional Government shall
30 
promote the hiring of qualified Cordillerans in government projects and private
31 
businesses located in the autonomous region.
32 
SEC. 132. Health as Basic Human Right. -  The Regional Government recognizes
33 
health as a basic human right and the attainment, maintenance and protection thereof
34 
shall be its responsibility. It affirms health as an instrument for and a product of socio-
35 
economic development. For this purpose, it shall, among other things:
43


1 
(a) Establish, maintain, and support an effective health care delivery system utilizing
2 
primary health care as a comprehensive and integrated approach;
3 
(b) Ensure that the health care system is governed by the principles of service, social
4 
justice and equity;
5 
(c) Promote health knowledge and skills that will enable its people to take
6 
responsibility for their health;
7 
(d) Give relevant training and appropriate standards for health workers and
8 
professionals;
9 
(e) Establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system which shall
10 
provide for the adoption of an essential drug list, encourage the use of generic
11 
medicines or drugs, and promote the use of herbal medicines and indigenous
12 
health resources;
13 
(0 Conduct research on traditional healing methods and promote indigenous health
14 
care practices;
15 
(g) Evolve financing schemes to effectively lessen the costs of health care without
16 
sacrificing the quality of health care services; and
17 
(h) Prioritize health by allocating at least 5% of the Regional Annual Budget to form
18 
the base of health budget.
19 
SEC. 133. Rights o f Workers. -  The Regional Government shall, in consonance
20 
with the Constitution, guarantee the rights of all workers to self-organization, collective
21 
bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including those provided
22 
by law.
23 
SEC. 134. Rights o f Vulnerable Sectors. -  The Regional Government shall:
24 
(a) Promote the well-being of differently-abled persons, the mentally handicapped,
25 
the elderly, the homeless, widowed and orphans, retirees, and veterans, adult
26 
offenders and children in conflict with the law and victims; and
27 
(b) Assist victims of calamities, abused and depressed children and women in crisis
28 
situations, including victims of adult offenders and children in conflict with the
29 
law.
30 
SEC. 135. Program fo r Rebel Returnees. -  The Regional Government shall adopt
31 
a social integration program responsive to the needs of rebel returnees including adult
32 
offenders and children in conflict with the law.
33 
SEC. 136. Social and Insurance Measures. -  The Regional Government shall
34 
adopt insurance and social security measures responsive to the needs of its people to
35 
supplement existing privileges.
44


1 
SEC. 137. Housing Programs. -  The Regional Government, in cooperation with
2 
the private sector, shall promote housing programs where needed, which shall be
3 
financed under liberal credit terms and shall utilize indigenous materials, architecture
4 
and technology. Participation of housing cooperatives to administer the projects shall be
5 
encouraged.
6 
SEC. 138. Role o f CordiUeran Women. -  The Regional Government shall
7 
recognize and strengthen the role of the Cordillera women in nation-building. It shall
8 
ensure the full implementation of the Magna Carta of Women and all other existing laws
9 
that promote the welfare and protection of women.
10 
SEC. 139. Comprehensive Program on Youth. -  The Regional Government shall
11 
establish a comprehensive program on youth development, create the structures to
12 
implement the same and appropriate adequate funds to provide support for the
13 
program.
14 
SEC. 140. Support to Peoples' Organization. -  The Regional Government shall
15 
promote and support duly established peoples' organizations and encourage the
16 
formation of organizations, especially those of the underprivileged.
17
18 
ARTICLE XIV
19 
PEACE AND ORDER
20 
SEC. 141. Prohibition on Private Armies. -  The Regional Government shall
21 
promote and maintain peace and order and public safety in the region. It shall not allow
22 
private armies.
23
24 
SEC. 142. Defense o f the Region. — The defense and security of the autonomous
25 
region shall be the responsibility of the national government with due recognition to
26 
recommendations from the Regional Government.
27 
SEC. 143. Peace Keeping Programs. -  The Regional Government shall have co-
28 
management over peace-keeping programs and initiatives and undertake close
29 
coordination with the Philippine National Police as well as the Armed Forces of the
30 
Philippines and other National Law Enforcement Agencies.
31 
SEC. 144. Regional Emergency. -  The provisions of the preceding sections
32 
notwithstanding, the Regional Governor may request the President of the Philippines to
33 
call upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines:
45


2
3
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
1
(a) To prevent or suppress lawlessness, violence, invasion or rebellion, when the 
public safety so requires, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution;
(b) To suppress the danger to or breach of peace in the autonomous region, when 
the police forces of the autonomous region are not able to do so; and
(c) To avert any imminent danger to public order and security in the autonomous 
region.
SEC. 145. Traditional Conflict Resolution. -  The Regional Government shall 
strengthen and enhance indigenous institutions or systems as may be applicable and 
found to be acceptable and effective in the promotion of social, political, economic and 
peace and order in the region. It shall provide for a system of incorporating indigenous 
practices in conflict resolution wherever and whenever applicable.
ARTICLE XV 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 146. Text o f the Organic Act. -  This Organic Act shall be officially 
promulgated in Filipino and English and translated into the languages widely spoken in 
the autonomous region. In case of conflict, the English text shall prevail.
SEC. 147. Change o f Name. -  The Regional Assembly may adopt a new name for 
the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera after public consultation.
SEC. 148 Regional Symbol. -  The Regional Government shall have a regional flag, 
emblem and hymn.
ARTICLE XVI
PERSONAL, FAMILY, INDIGENOUS AND PROPERTY RELATIONS
SEC. 149. Customary Laws. -  Customary laws affecting personal, family, tribal 
and property relations in the Cordillera shall be recognized.
SEC. 150. Protection o f the Family. -  The family as the basic unit of society shall 
be protected.
SEC. 151. Indigenous Marriages. -  Marriages solemnized in accordance with the 
indigenous customary laws of the place shall be valid, and the dissolution of such
32 
marriages in accordance with these laws shall be recognized.
46


1 
SEC. 152. Indigenous Settlement o f Disputes. -  Settlement of tribal, personal
2 
and family disputes shall be recognized. Acquisition and encumbrance of property done
3 
in accordance with customary practices, and settlement of disputes involving property
4 
rights and ownership shall be governed by the customary laws of the place where the
5 
property is located.
7 
ARTICLE X V II
8 
AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS
9 
SEC. 153. Amendment or Revision. -  Any amendment to, or revision of this Act
10 
may be made by Congress upon recommendation of the majority of all members of the
11 
Regional Assembly.
12 
SEC. 154. Effectivity o f Amendment or Revision. -  Any amendment to or
13 
revision of this Organic Act shall become effective when ratified by a majority of the
14 
votes cast in a plebiscite called for the purpose which shall be held not earlier than sixty
15 
(60) days nor later than ninety (90) days after the approval of such amendment or
16 
revisions.
17
18 
ARTICLE X V III
19 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS
20 
SEC. 155. Coverage o f the Plebiscite. -  The coverage of the plebiscite shall
21 
be the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and the
22 
chartered City of Baguio. Any two or more provinces or cities voting favorably for this
23 
Organic Act in the plebiscite shall comprise the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera
24 
while those voting unfavorably for this Organic Act in the plebiscite shall remain within
25 
their current region.
26 
SEC. 156. Election Date. -  Unless otherwise provided by law, the date of
27 
election of the first set of officials of the Regional Government shall be in the next local
28 
election following the ratification of this Organic Act in the plebiscite. Subsequent
29 
elections shall coincide with the nationwide local elections.
30 
SEC. 157. Residency Requirement for the First Election. -  For purposes of
31 
the first regional election, candidates must have actually resided and a registered voter
32 
in the region for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the election. Provided that
47


1 
they meet all other qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Article V of this
2 
Organic Act.
3 
SEC. 158. Cessation o f Administrative Offices. — Except for the regional line
4 
agencies, the Cordillera Executive Board, the Cordillera Regional Assembly, and the
5 
Cordillera Bodong Administration as a commission, created under Executive Order No.
6 
220, and the Cordillera Regional Development Council created by Executive Order No.
7 
30 after the de-activation of the above-mentioned Cordillera bodies, shall cease to exist
8 
immediately upon the assumption of office of the Regional Governor.
9 
SEC. 159. Seat o f the Regional Government — The seat of the Regional
10 
Government shall be determined by the majority of all members of the Regional
11 
Assembly: Provided, however, that the interim seat of the Regional Government shall
12 
be in the City of Baguio.
13 
SEC. 160. 
Oversight Committee. -  Within one (1) month from the
14 
organization of the Regional Government, an Oversight Committee composed of the
15 
executive secretary as Chairperson, the secretary of the Department of Budget and
16 
Management, the Cordillera Regional Governor, the Regional Speaker of the Assembly,
17 
the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Chairperson
18 
of NCIP as members, shall be organized for the purpose of supervising the transfer to
19 
the autonomous region of such powers and functions vested in it by this Organic Act
20 
and the appropriations of the offices or agencies including the transfer of properties,
21 
assets and liabilities, and all personnel of the line agencies and government-owned or -
22 
controlled corporations that may be absorbed by the Regional Government and, with
23 
respect to the latter, also the terms and conditions of their turnover, without diminution
24 
of their compensation and other benefits. Provided, the salaries of these absorbed
25 
personnel shall continue to be funded by the national government.
26
27 
Within six (6) months after its organization, the oversight committee shall submit
28 
its report and recommendation to the President of the Philippines who shall act on the
29 
report and recommendations within ninety (90) days after receipt thereof: Provided,
30 
however, that if the President fails to act within said period, the recommendations of
31 
the Oversight Committee shall be deemed approved.
32 
SEC. 161. Government Allocations. -  Over and above the regularly given to
33 
Local Government Units and regional line agencies, the national government shall
34 
continue its annual allotment to the Regional Government. In addition, the national
48


1 
government shall provide the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera an annual assistance
2 
of Ten billion pesos (P10,000,000,000.00) for the first five (5) years and Five billion
3 
pesos (P5,000,000/000.00) for the next five (5) years to be allocated in the following
4 
manner:
5 
(a) Ninety percent (90%) of the annual subsidy for the Regional Government shall
6 
be invested exclusively for revenue generating projects.
7 
(b) Ten percent (10%) of the annual subsidy shall remain with the Regional
8 
Government as Trust Fund.
9 
SEC. 162. Fifty percent of the revenues generated mentioned in Sec. 160 (a)
10 
shall be re-invested for income generating projects. The remaining revenues generated
11 
shall be distributed as follows:
12 
(a) Fifteen percent (15%) to the Regional Government;
13 
(b) Thirty five percent (35%) to the Province/ highly urbanized city;
14 
SEC. 
163. 
Disclosure and Transparency. — Funds shall be available
15 
exclusively for the specific purpose for which they have been appropriated. Any officer
16 
of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera whose duty permits or requires the
17 
possession, custody and disbursement of the funds shall be accountable and
18 
responsible thereof. Financial records shall be kept, audited and made public annually
19 
or as often as maybe necessary.
20 
SEC. 164. Direct Release o f LGUs Share. — The share of each local
21 
government unit shall be released without need of any further action, directly to the
22 
provincial, city, municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be on a quarterly
23 
basis within five (5) days after the end of each quarter, and which shall not be subject
24 
to any lien or hold back that may be imposed by the Regional Government for whatever
25 
purpose.
26 
SEC. 165. Plebiscite. — The creation of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera
27 
shall take effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast by the constituent units
28 
provided in Section 3, Article II of this Act, in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier
29 
than three (3) months but not later than six (6) months after this Act takes effect:
30 
Provided, that only the provinces and cities voting favorably in such plebiscite shall be
31 
included in the ARC.
32 
The sum of Two billion six hundred ninety-five million (P2,695,000,000) is hereby
33 
appropriated for the following purposes:
49


1 
(a) Twenty million pesos (PhP20,000,000.00) to be allotted to the Regional
2 
Development Council for the conduct of a well-coordinated inter-sectoral and
3 
inter-agency Regional, Provincial, Municipal and Barangay information campaign
4 
on this Act.
5 
(b) Seventy million pesos (PhP70,000,000.00) shall be equitably divided among the
6 
provinces and the city for the conduct of lEC purposes.
7 
(c) Twenty-Five million pesos (PhP25,000,000.00) to be allotted to the Commission
8 
on Elections.
9 
(d) Eighty million pesos (PhP80,000,000.00) to be allotted to the Regional
10 
Government for its initial organizational requirements.
11 
(e) Two billion five hundred million (P2,500,000,000) for the construction of the
12 
regional government center.
13
14 
Par (a) and (b) shall be released upon the effectivity of this Organic Act.
15 
The Cordillera Development Council with the assistance of the Philippine Information
16 
Agency, and in consultation with the provincial/city governments, the Cordillera
17 
Association of Regional Executives, and other key stakeholders, shall determine the
18 
manner of campaigning and the deputation of government agencies, non-government
19 
organizations and other stakeholders for purposes of conducting a well-coordinated
20 
information campaign within the first three months after the passage of this Act.
21 
The amount of Two billion six hundred ninety-five million (P2,695,000,000) as herein
22 
appropriated shall be charged against the contingent fund. Any deficiency thereof shall
23 
be taken from any available funds of the national government.
24
25 
SEC. 166. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part of this Organic Act is
26 
declared as invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining part or parts thereof not affected
27 
thereby shall remain valid.
28 
SEC. 167. Repealing Clause. -  All laws inconsistent with this Organic Act are
29 
hereby repealed or modified acxcordingly.
30 
SEC. 168. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
31 
its complete publication in the official gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of
32 
nationwide circulation.
33 
Approved,
50