Duterte ally urges local execs to support federalism

TAGUM CITY June 1- Davao del Norte 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario is urging incoming local chief executives to rally behind President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to shift the system of government to federal form.

Del Rosario, who won a landslide victory in the gubernatorial race in the recent elections, said he will prod the League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP) and the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines (ULAP) to fully support the next president’s push for federalism.

According to him, the LGUs will be the primary beneficiaries of the plans to change the current unitary system of government, since Duterte proposes a federal system in which the regions keep 70% of their income.

“It is only fitting that LGUs back federalism since they are the primary beneficiaries,” he said.

The lawmaker recently passed House Joint resolution No. 39, urging his fellow legislators to let the electorate decide on the issue of revising the 1987 Constitution to establish a federal system of government by calling for a constitutional convention.

Del Rosario, who was one of the top performing congressmen in the 16th Congress, further asked the representatives to immediately study and debate on the subject matter.

He said the con-con would be the most expedient, least divisive and the most transparent way of achieving the much-needed constitutional reform.

The incoming governor stressed that power sharing between the national government and regional governments is the solution to the great inequality across the regions, in attaining inclusive growth and development and in ending the long-running rebellions that feed on social inequities.

He is also upbeat about the greater role of local officials in achieving better collective responsibility and accountability for governance towards attaining genuine local autonomy in a federal state.

He said Federalism will encourage LCEs to work harder towards improving their localities and their constituents.

“The local chief executives can fully harness their creativity, courage and resourcefulness in instituting reforms to advance the common good and empower the poor and marginalized segments of society,” he said. (Noel Baguio/DavNor PIO)