THE Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR), which is the 18th state under the proposed federal government, only needs the approval of the Congress and ultimately by President Rodrigo Duterte.
This was revealed yesterday by Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, who is also the spokesman of federalism, in a briefing and consultation on federalism held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
He also revealed that Siquijor has been included in the NFR.
Malaya also confirmed yesterday that NFR has been included by the members of Consultative Commission (ConCom) in the draft amendments which will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte on July 4.
Concom has been created by Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution and submit their proposals for federalism.
"There is already full support for NFR but we have to make sure it will become a separate state because 18 Federated States is already final in the draft,” Malaya said.
He also said NFR has a strong support in the Congress which is a big factor for its realization.
He explained that once the draft is approved by the President, the proposal will then be submitted to the Congress, which will then convene into a Constituent Assembly.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who has been pushing for NFR, attended the consultation initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government–Negros Oriental in Dumaguete City.
The activity was also attended by Negros Oriental provincial officials led by Governor Roel Degamo, Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, and barangay officials, and other local officials.
The members of ConCom namely Arthur Aguilar, Atty. Ferdinand Bocobo, Prof. Edmund Tayao, Cmdre. Rex Robles and Prof. Eddie Alih discussed topics on Economic Provisions and Negrosanon Federated Region, Proposed Structure of the Federal Government (Executive, Legislative, Judiciary), Structure of the Federated Region Government, National Territory and National Security, Bills of Rights, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and other provisions.
Degamo welcomed the participants and shared the importance of the consultations in the proposed shift to the federal form of government.
Aguilar presented the overview of the consultation process and said that federalism will promote good governance and create a ripple of growth in our economy.
The presentations were then followed by an open forum where participants from various sectors show support and interest to the proposed NFR.
Malaya, meanwhile, emphasized that under the federal government, the federated regions will have the independence from the national government.
He said they are going around the country to get the support of the Filipino people on the proposal of ConCom as there also members of the Congress who are not sold out to the proposal of ConCom.