Law Summary
Declaration of Principles and Policies
- CAR is integral to the Philippines and governed under the Constitution and this Organic Act.
- Guarantees autonomy for ancestral domain, cultural heritage, economic development, and self-governance.
- Recognizes indigenous customs and institutions.
- Protects human rights and welfare.
- Natural resource use must conserve ecological balance benefiting Cordillerans.
- Promotes social justice, peace, equality, and democratic participation.
- Encourages sustainable development and educational quality responsive to regional needs.
- Prohibits weapons of mass destruction development.
- Requires civilian supremacy, transparency, consultations, and devolution of powers.
Regional Autonomous Government
- CAR consists of the regional government plus local government units (LGUs).
- Powers include administration, ancestral domain, local legislation, cultural preservation, and economic development, excluding national defense, foreign affairs, currency, and key federal functions.
- The President supervises the regional government.
- CAR is a corporate entity with full jurisdiction over devolved matters.
Regional Legislative Assembly
- Cordillera Assembly exercises regional legislative power.
- Assembly members elected based on provincial districts and party-list system.
- Terms last three years, with three consecutive terms limit.
- Establishes legislative sessions, quorum, and procedures.
- Members receive salaries comparable to national government aides.
- Prohibits conflicts of interest and concurrent public employment.
- Provides mechanisms for bill passage, veto, and appropriations.
Regional Executive Department
- Executive power vested in an elected Regional Governor and Vice-Governor.
- Officers must meet citizenship, residency, and age qualifications.
- Governed by oath of office and term limits.
- Salary and privileges are safeguarded during terms.
- Vacancy rules ensure continuity of governance.
- Restrictions on holding other offices or engaging in conflicting interests.
- The Governor appoints Cabinet members with the Assembly's concurrence.
Local Government
- Constituent LGUs (provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays) retain autonomy under the Local Government Code.
- Regional government supervises LGUs; the President exercises general supervision.
Patrimony, Economy and Development
- Regional government leads development planning and implementation.
- Emphasizes watershed protection, indigenous development concepts, cooperative ownership, urban reform, sustainable technology, and equitable resource distribution.
- Controls natural resource exploitation, except uranium, coal, petroleum.
- Supports reforestation and community infrastructure.
- Establishes Regional Planning and Development Board as coordinating body.
- Facilitates small-scale mining, regional development bank, and infrastructure including roads and telecommunications.
Fiscal Powers and Revenues
- CAR can create revenues and impose fees, excluding taxation powers.
- Revenues include fees, national government appropriations, shares from national wealth, public utilities income, block grants, and foreign aid.
- Promotes economic agreements, investment incentives, and tax exemptions subject to assembly approval.
- Manages foreign and domestic loans according to national laws.
Agriculture, Trade, Industry, Tourism, and Cooperatives
- Promotes agriculture, water resource conservation, fisheries, and price regulation.
- Encourages small and medium-scale industries and safe industrial practices.
- Prevents capital flight and monopolies.
- Supports eco-tourism consistent with cultural and ecological preservation.
- Fosters cooperatives for social empowerment.
Education, Science, Culture, and Sports
- Exercises legislative authority over regional educational policies and institutions.
- Protects private educational institutions.
- Establishes scholarships and guarantees participatory rights of educational stakeholders.
- Promotes curricula reflective of the region's cultural heritage.
- Supports scientific research, intellectual property rights, and development of a common regional language.
- Implements physical fitness and sports programs.
Social Justice and Welfare
- Commits to creating opportunities for marginalized groups.
- Supports equitable election access and democratized ownership.
- Protects labor rights, wages, profit sharing, and safe working conditions.
- Prioritizes health as a human right with accessible healthcare systems.
- Supports vulnerable groups, reintegration of rebel returnees, social insurance, and housing.
- Promotes gender equality and working women’s welfare.
- Encourages people’s organizations participation and representation.
Peace and Order
- Assembly enacts laws for peace, public safety, and security force creation.
- Regional police formed under national framework but under regional governor’s supervision.
- Defense remains a national government function with preference for local inhabitants in military assignments.
- Indigenous peace structures recognized.
General Provisions
- Official texts published in Filipino and English; English prevails in conflict.
- Five-year residency required for regional office qualifications.
- Regional name may be changed by Congress upon assembly recommendation.
- Regional emblem and hymn established.
Amendments and Revisions
- Amendments require majority vote in Congress and ratification via plebiscite within specified days.
Transitory Provisions
- First regional officials elected May 1998.
- Pre-existing regional bodies dissolved; assets and personnel transferred.
- Interim regional seat in Baguio.
- Personnel protections ensured during reorganization.
- Oversight committee supervises transfer of powers and assets.
- Line agencies under regional control upon organization.
- GSIS, SSS, and similar funds excluded from regional governance.
- National government provides financial support with specified allocations to regional and local infrastructure.
- Local government shares released quarterly without liens.
- Assembly may create offices as funds allow.
- CAR creation contingent on plebiscite approval with appropriations made for implementation.
- Invalid provisions do not affect remaining parts.
- Supersedes inconsistent laws.
Effectivity
- Effective 15 days after publication in national and local newspapers within the region.