Republic Act No. 8438/Article III

by Congress of the Philippines

Layout 2

Article—III

The Cordillera Autonomous Region

Section 1. The Cordillera Autonomous Region is a territorial and political subdivision administered by the Regional Autonomous Government consisting of the regional government and local government units, under the general supervision of the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sec. 2. The regional government shall exercise powers and functions necessary for the proper governance and development of all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays within the autonomous region consistent with the declared constitutional policy on regional and local autonomy and decentralization: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be construed as to authorize the diminution of the powers and functions already enjoyed by local government units.

Sec. 3. The President of the Philippines shall exercise general supervision over the regional autonomous government and all local government units in the area of autonomy through the head of the regional autonomous government to ensure that laws are faithfully executed.

Sec. 4. The regional government may exercise the power of eminent domain.

Sec. 5. The autonomous region is a corporate entity with jurisdiction in all matters devolved to it by the Constitution and this Organic Act as herein enumerated:

(1) Administrative organization;

(2) Creation of sources of revenues;

(3) Ancestral domain and natural resources;

(4) Personal, family and property relations;

(5) Regional urban and rural planning development;

(6) Economic, social and tourism development;

(7) Educational policies;

(8) Preservation and development of the cultural heritage;

(9) Powers, functions and responsibilities now being exercised by the departments of the national government, except;

(a) Foreign affairs;

(b) National defense and security;

(c) Postal service;

(d) Coinage, and fiscal and monetary policies;

(e) Administration of justice;

(f) Quarantine;

(g) Customs and tariff;

(h) Citizenship;

(i) Naturalization, immigration and deportation;

(j) General auditing, civil service and elections;

(k) Foreign trade;

(10) Patents, trademark, trade names, and copyrights; and such other matters for the promotion of the general welfare of the people of the region.

Sec. 6. The City of Baguio and any city within the CAR shall be governed primarily by its charter.