13 Central Visayas reps seek Con-Assembly

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Central Visayas legislators filed Tuesday a joint resolution asking to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly to revise the Constitution. Among the amendments they proposed is the shift to a federal system of government. Only 13 of the region’s 15 legislators, however, authored the resolution, with Reps. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) and son Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd) raising a few objections, specifically on the issue on federalism. In a phone interview yesterday, Pablo John said the proposal only adds another layer of bureaucracy with the creation of the 11 federal states, an opinion that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also raised earlier. “Why do we have to make this very artificial layer of bureaucracy called the state? Right now, the local government units can deal directly with the National Government. With the federal system, they have to deal with the state government first," he said. Pablo John also pointed out that a federal system would entail additional expenses because funds for services, capital outlay and for the maintenance and other operating expenses of the state need to be set aside. Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district), one of the authors of the joint resolution, said they expect lengthy discussions on their proposal. He said their measure “breaks the ice" on the issue of amending the Constitution. House Joint Resolution 14 is the Lower House’s version of Senate Resolution 10, which Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and 11 other senators filed two weeks ago. Unlike the Senate Resolution, which identified Toledo City in Cebu as the capital of the State of Central Visayas, the House version seeks to make Cebu City the capital and seat of government of the state. Cuenco said earlier that legislators from Bohol and Oriental Negros find Toledo City too far from their provinces. Like Cuenco, Pablo John believes the resolution opens a public discussion on the issue. He said that he and his father will submit their own proposal, which they are still working on. Pablo John said they want more power and autonomy for the provinces, which could later decide to form a state. He said that federalism in other countries came about when people from independent or semi-independent groups decided to form a state. Unlike the senators’ and Central Visayas legislators’ proposal, federalism in other countries did not start by having top government officials instruct those below, referring to the provinces and the LGUs, to band together and form a state. “Nobody legislated it. It evolved out of a decision of relatively existing states to group together into a federal state. The US, for example, were independent states forming a union," Pablo John explained. He also said that the proposed measure tends to leave out smaller provinces like Siquijor, which could not expect to have officials voted into the state government. This, he said, would create dissent. Pablo John explained that he and his father are not against the ideals of federalism, and object only to the way other legislators propose to achieve it. Aside from Cuenco, Reps. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district), Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st), Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th), Ramon Durano VI (Cebu, 5th), Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th), Edgar Chatto (Bohol, 1st), Roberto Cajes (Bohol, 2nd), Adam Relson Jala (Bohol, 3rd), Jocelyn Limkaichong (Oriental Negros, 1st), George Arnaiz (Oriental Negros, 2nd), Pryde Henry Teves (Oriental Negros, 3rd) and Orlando Fua (Siquijor) signed the joint resolution. They argued that the 1987 Constitution provides for a unitary system where development programs are “centrally determined, planned, funded and implemented by the National Government in Manila." “The highly centralized system of government has brought about a spotty development of the nation, where preferential treatment has been given to localities whose officials are friendly with or have easy access to the incumbent administration," read the joint resolution. “This lopsided arrangement has spawned a host of problems, including massive nationwide poverty to runaway insurgencies and rebellions that feed on the societal inequalities in the nation," it added. Cuenco said their call for a constituent assembly does not only cover federalism but other important amendments, like the definition of national territory, giving more powers to the Commission on Human Rights and defining the role of the military, which is solely to defend the country against foreign invaders. As proposed, the country will be divided into 11 states, with the State of Central Visayas composed of Cebu, Negros, Siquijor, Bohol, and Masbate. Cuenco said he expects the proposal to be referred to the committee on constitutional amendment today, which will then set a public hearing. He said that whatever amendments are introduced will only be passed if the people ratify them through a plebiscite. - Sun.Star Cebu