Local officials gather to push for federalism

Supporters of the shift to federalism showed up on Wednesday in the National Federalism Congress organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

A report from Jun Veneracion on "24 Oras" showed a fiesta-like ambiance in the event, which is a culmination of the agency's four-month national information campaign.

DILG Undersecretary Emily Padilla said they invited all the supporters of converting the country's government to a federal form as a show of force that their campaign is gaining ground among the masses.

"Lahat ng napuntahan namin inimbita namin para sa isang malaking gathering. Para talagang ipakita na merong mass base itong federalism campaign, hindi lang sa taas," Padilla said.

Under a federal government, the country will be divided into federal states which the DILG hopes would empower local governments.

Public services on health and education would also lie in the hands of each regional government or federal states.  

During the congress, several leagues of local officials signed a memorandum of agreement in support of the information drive on federalism.

"Bilang gobernador, sumusporta po kami kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at ipaglalaban po naming ang federalismo sa ting bansa," Quezon Governor Jayjay Suarez said of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, for her part, said gaining support for federalism would be easier if all Filipinos are informed until the barangay level.

"Ang amin pong commitment sa araw na ito, habang ako ay lumalagda sa kasunduang ito, ay ang gawin ang lahat para ng sa ganon ay maipalaganap ang impormasyon tungkol sa pederalismo," she said.

"Madadali ang pagsuporta sa federalism kung ito ay mapapaliwanag hanggang sa barangay level," Cayetano added, representative of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

The proposal for a federal government is among the constitutional amendments proposed by the Duterte administration. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/NB, GMA News