Guingona: Federalism means more projects for local gov’t

CEBU, Philippines - Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III is batting for a change in the government system in order to empower local officials that will not need to rely more on national funding.

Guingona, speaking at the annual convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Leyte Province Chapter, said a local government unit must retain higher share of the local revenue than the national government.

“Dapat ang lokal nga kagamhanan ang mas dako og bahin kaysa sa national government aron kamo na ang magbuot kung unsa ang proyekto nga angayan sa inyong tagsa-tagsa ka dapit. Og mahimo lang kini kung ang atong gobiyerno mahimo ng Federalism,” he said.

Guingona supports federalism, or the principle of government that defines the relationship between the national government and its constituent units and power and authority is allocated between the national and local governmental units.

Guingona also spoke about federalism in a meeting with the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter as part of his two-day itinerary in Cebu.

He emphasized to both leagues that he while he supports federalism, it does not mean that he is supporting any politician in particular who is pushing for federalism.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has been campaigning for federalism and is currently being prodded to run for president in the 2016 elections.

“Akoa lang ning klarohon nga I support federalism, not Duterte. I belong to the Liberal Party,” Guingona clarified.

LP is the administration’s political party headed by President Benigno Aquino III.

Meanwhile, Guingona, the chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography, has filed Senate Bill No. 2654 or the Health Facilities Regulation Act that seeks to strengthen the regulation of health facilities and services in the country.

Guingona, in a statement, said that in pursuit of the Universal Health Care agenda, aside from expanding health insurance coverage, health facilities should reach the standards of adequacy to deliver quality health services.

Guingona noted that over the years, the country saw the emergence of new types of health care facilities such as diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation centers that no longer qualify under the regulatory mandate of the Department of Health.

The chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee added that there is a need to establish rules, protocols and standards for all health facilities and services within one regulatory body.

Guingona likewise spoke to the leagues on the proposed Barangay Reform Law that seeks to extend the term limits of barangay officials as well as provide the barangay workers with higher benefits. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/ATO (FREEMAN)