| Federalism
proposal gains support from LPP Board
|
Sen. Nene
Pimentel presents his proposal on Federalism to the
2nd National Executive Board Meeting of the Governors
held June 6, 2008 at the Century Park Hotel. |
An
advocacy of Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. for the shift
into a federal form of government in order to disperse the
powers to the three major islands of the country gained the
support of the members of the National Executive Board during
its meeting on June 6, 2008.
Pimentel, who was invited by the league to the meeting of
the board, discussed extensively his advocacy to federalize
the country in order to effect change and disperse power from
the center without bloodshed.
LPP
national president and Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo
S. Ocampos suggested that the league to be heavily involved
in the discussion timetable to bring the proposal to the attention
of the greatest number of Filipinos and generate awareness
on the issue.
“We governors are morally obliged to inform our constituents
of the impending winds of change. We need to go on provincial
sorties so that the people are fully informed and we can get
their feedback,” Ocampos said.
In
his presentation before the members of the NEB, Sen. Pimentel
explained that in his proposal for federalization, the country
would be divided into 11 federal states – four in Luzon,
four in the Visayas and three in Mindanao, which include the
Federal State of the Bangsamoro.
By
creating 11 new states, 11 new centers of power, economy and
investment are created, he said.
The
Luzon States would include Northern Luzon, Central Luzon,
Bicol and Southern Tagalog. The Federal States of Minparom,
Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Western Visayas would
comprise those in the Visayas. The Mindanao States, meanwhile,
would be Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro.
Metro
Manila, on the other hand, will be converted into a Federal
Administrative Region along the lines of Washington D.C.,
New Delhi or Kuala Lumpur.
Sen.
Pimentel explained that he proposed that the states be created
our of bigger political territories “to provide the
environment for competitiveness and sustainability rather
than create States out of provinces that in many instance
might simply be too small to survive as a state.”
He,
however, pointed out that under his proposal, the provinces,
cities, municipalities and barangays would still be retained.
Under
the proposal, the national territory would be defined to include
the Scarborough shoals and the Kalayaan Islands, seats of
power would be dispersed, legislative powers shared between
the federal republic and the states, LGU revenue shares increased
and the provision of an equalization funds to assist states
in dire need of development funds.
Davao
del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario said that while he is not
sure whether the proposal to shift to federalization is fully
supported by all governors, and since the move to federalize
the country is strongly supported in Mindanao, the movement
should be started there.
Nevertheless,
Gov. Ocampos suggested the creation of a speaker’s bureau
represented by four governors each from Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao.
Marinduque
Gov. Jose Antonio Carrion, however, advocated for bringing
the issue on federalism directly to the grassroots by way
of barangay caucuses instead of just organizing a speaker’s
bureau.
As
to the timetables for setting this proposal into action, Sen.
Pimentel said that the timetable for discussion is already
ongoing. On the other hand, the adoption timetable depends
on the action of the Senate, House of Representatives and
Malacañang on the proposal; while the implementation
timetable is something else because political infrastructure
must first be put in place. (AJSanchez)
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