44 mayors ‘back’ shift to federal government

CEBU, Philippines - A movement pushing for a federal form of government in the Philippines began in Cebu yesterday, reportedly enjoying the support of 44 mayors and other concerned citizens.

Tuburan Mayor Aljun Diamante, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, told reporters after a Federalism forum in Cebu City yesterday that all of Cebu’s municipal mayors are backing the initiative.

Diamante, however, said he has yet to convince the mayors of the cities of Bogo, Carcar and Naga.

Other noted personalities who joined the said forum included former Cebu governor Emilio Osmeña, Cordova town mayor Adelino Sitoy, incoming Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and sister Minnie and others in the civil society.

Former Senate President Aquilino Pimental Jr., who served as the guest speaker at the forum, presented his proposal favoring the federal form of government.

“Among the advantages is that growth is spread all throughout the country and not just concentrated in Manila,” said Pimentel.

Pimentel said the move to federalize the country is not simply a political undertaking but also an economic effort.

“The federal proposal will hopefully provide a just and lasting redress for the centuries-old grievances of the powerless and the neglected sectors of society like the Moro people of Mindanao and the Lumads,” he said.

Under his proposal, Pimentel identified 11 federal states, namely, Federal State of Northern Luzon, Federal State of Central Luzon, Federal State of Southern Tagalog, Federal State of Bicol, Federal State of Eastern Visayas, Federal State of Central Visayas, Federal State of Western Visayas, Federal State of Minparom (Mindanao, Palawan and Romblon), Federal State of Northern Mindanao, Federal state of Southern Mindanao and Federal State of Bangsamoro.

Pimentel said every state shall be represented by six senators elected by the qualified voters in state-wide elections.

With 11 federal states and six senators from each, he explained that there will be 66 senators from the states. He said six more senators will then be chosen from Metro Manila and an additional nine from the overseas or a total of 81 senators for the country.

The increase in the number of senators, he said, may be justified by the rise in population.

Currently, the country only has 24 senators.

“Daghan ang mangreklamo nga kadaghan ba anang 81 senators. Pero sa ubang nasud, gamay ra sila og populasyon pero mas daghan pa sila og senador kaysa diri,” Pimentel said.

For instance, the United Kingdom with 60.9 million in population has 618 senators; Ethiopia with 78 million in population has 108 senators; Thailand with a population of 65.4 million has 150 senators; Egypt with a population of 81.7 million has 264 senators; France has 331 senators for its 64 million population, among others.

Pimentel’s proposal was first pushed in 2008 and still pending at the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

Considered the “Father of the Local Government Code,” he said every federal state will have its own governor, vice governor, city or municipal mayor and other local government officials.

The seat of power will be dispersed, wherein the Federal Executive Department will hold offices in the Federal Administrative Region of Metro Manila, the Federal Legislature will hold office in the Federal State of Central Visayas while the Federal Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court will hold their main office in the Federal State of Northern Mindanao.

Sought for comment, Governor Hilario Davide III said he is not “really sold out” to the idea. He preferred to “still look into it more.”

Davide acknowledged Federalism’s advantages, including autonomy on how much taxes should be imposed. But he also said other areas may be left behind because of the inequitable distribution of income and perhaps strong competition.

“Kung ma-convince gyud ta nga this is really for the good of everybody, ang ako lang nga ang local government should have autonomy ug maka-determine and chart its own future. Dili nato dali-dali-on kining mga ingon ani,” Davide said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Romiel Franz C. Gallego