NEGROS Occidental second district Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr. said Thursday, May 17, that Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has wanted unity among political groups in the province.
Escalante, secretary-general of United Negros Alliance (Unega), made the statement in reaction to the call of Government Service Insurance System President Clint Aranas, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan Negros president, for the political leaders in the province to unite.
"The call for unity is always welcome. When we negotiate for any position, we negotiate with a semblance of fairness and equality for both sides," Escalante said.
"Maybe, he is just reiterating the call of the governor for all leaders in Negros to unite," Escalante added.
Meanwhile, Escalante said Unega is committed to supporting the move of the Duterte administration to shift to federalism.
Escalante said Marañon believes that the shift to federalism will go first before the mid-term elections.
"The Unega leadership also believes that we should concentrate on the shift in the form of government before we talk about the May 2019 election," he pointed out.
He added that their party is waiting for the move of the national government on this.
"We are talking about a shift to federalism but we do not know what is being proposed to us," he said.
He said the consultation Friday, May 18, by the Consultative Committee created by President Rodrigo Duterte will be "very vital for us," Escalante said.
As to the statement of the Church that a shift to federalism under the current administration is dangerous, Escalante said the danger is always danger in every switch in the form of government.
"If the proposal is laid on the table then we will know the magnitude of the risk that we will face," he said.
"We will listen. If we think that it's now the right time then go ahead but if it is still too early, then we will make our stand also," he added.