05/02/2020 R.A. 6766 (g) Educational policies; (h) Preservation and development of the cultural heritage; (i) Powers, functions and responsibilities now being exercised by the departments of the National Government except: (1) Foreign affairs; (2) National defense and security; (3) Postal service; (4) Coinage, and fiscal and monetary policies; (5) Administration of justice; (6) Quarantine; (7) Customs and tariffs; (8) Citizenship; (9) Naturalization, immigration and deportation; (10) General auditing, civil service and elections; (11) Foreign trade; (12) Maritime, land and air transportation, and communications that affect areas outside the Autonomous Region; and (13) Patents, trademarks, trade names, and copyrights; and (j) Such other matters as may be authorized by national law for the promotion of the general welfare of the people in the region. The Regional Government shall set up appropriate offices, agencies, and instrumentalities to carry out its powers, functions and responsibilities. Section 4. The Regional Government may exercise the power of eminent domain. ARTICLE IV Inter-Governmental Relations Section 1. The President shall exercise general supervision over the Regional Government including the local government units therein, directly or through the Cordillera Governor, to ensure that national and regional laws are faithfully executed. Section 2. All judicial and quasi-judicial bodies shall continue to exercise their powers as provided in the Constitution and national laws unless otherwise provided herein. Section 3. The Regional Government, working closely with the people through their non-governmental organizations and other appropriate institutions, shall initiate and implement programs and projects in all areas within its scope of authority and responsibility. Section 4. Each province and city of the region shall continue to be represented in Congress in such number and proportion as may be determined by national law. ARTICLE V The Legislative Department Section 1. The regional legislative power shall be vested in the Cordillera Assembly, except to the extent reserved by the Constitution and this Organic Act on initiative and referendum. Section 2. Provisions of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the Cordillera Assembly may create, divide, merge, abolish or substantially alter boundaries of any province, city, municipality or barangay or ili subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected. It may also change the names of such local government units, public places and institutions. Section 3. The Cordillera Assembly shall approve the budget of the Autonomous Region. Section 4. Unless otherwise provided by national law, the Cordillera Assembly shall be composed of not more than thirty-two (32) Members who shall be elected from regional assembly districts apportioned by regional law among the provinces and cities in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, taking into account geography and ethnolinguistic characteristics: Provided, That each province or city shall have at least one (1) Member. Each district shall comprise a compact and contiguous territory. The Members shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective regional assembly districts. Within two (2) years after the return of every census, a reapportionment of the regional assembly districts shall be made by the Cordillera Assembly in accordance with the criteria hereinabove established. Section 5. (A) The Members of the Cordillera Assembly shall have a term of three (3) years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by national law, at noon on the thirty-first day of March next following their election and shall end at noon of the same date three (3) years thereafter. (B) No Member of the Cordillera Assembly shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of, or removal from, office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected. Section 6. (A) Unless otherwise provided by national law, the regular election of the Members of the Cordillera Assembly shall be held on the second Monday of February. (B) In case of vacancy in the Cordillera Assembly occurring at least one (1) year before the expiration of the term of office, a special election shall be called to fill the vacancy in the manner prescribed by regional law: Provided, That the Member elected shall serve only for the unexpired term. Section 7. No person shall be a Member of the Cordillera Assembly unless she is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the day of the election, able to read and write, a registered voter in the political subdivision in which he shall be elected, and an actual resident thereof for a period of not less than one (1) year and of the Cordilleras for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the day of the election. https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6766_1989.html 3/14