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Friday, February 15, 2008
Mindanao bizmen back federalism
By Carlo P. Mallo and Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- Mindanao businessmen have expressed support to renew calls for a change in the present form of government to a federal system.
A top official of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) said the lopsided treatment for Mindanao in the present system of government has adverse effects on the island's development.
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MBC president and construction magnate Vicente Lao said the business sector is keen on supporting the federal system of government.
"We believe that there is a need to educate people on the advantages and disadvantages of a federal form of government," he said.
Lao said the business sector sees advantages in changing the form of government far outweighing the disadvantages.
He said that in the present form of government, Mindanao is one of the biggest contributors to the national coffers, yet it receives less than one third of the national budget.
"It is very lopsided," Lao said. "Every region has different needs, and this can be addressed more efficiently in a Federal form of government."
For instance, Lao said, General Santos City is more into fishing, while Surigao is focused on mining, and Davao is into agriculture.
"The day to day activities of the provinces would be resolved only by the state and no longer by the National Government in a federal form of government," Lao added.
In a more concrete form, Lao referred to the long delayed construction of the Governor Generoso Bridge I in Bankerohan, a major artery in Davao City and for the entire Mindanao.
"The (Governor Generoso) bridge cannot be funded while they do not know where else to construct an overpass in Metro Manila," Lao said.
Councilor Pilar Braga, for her part, said she is for the change. She believes that federalism will solve a lot of problems in governance by facilitating true local autonomy and empowerment.
Neophyte Councilor Karlo Bello also said the move depends whether "we can adapt with the implications of these changes."
"There are a lot of implications in that. On the political side, there will be substantial changes but I think it is due to the clamor for empowerment and greater autonomy for LGUs (local government units) especially those in Mindanao. This is to allow them to facilitate genuine reforms and provide effective and efficient services and programs in accordance to their better understandings of the problems of the locality free from the dictates of imperial Manila," Bello said.
Bello said the issue of income distribution, particularly with the sharing in taxes will benefit LGUs with higher income generation.
"Though there are those who say that the present system of income distribution is an equitable system, which supports low income LGUs, you can't blame Mindanaoanas for making this stand due to the years of alienation of the national government," Bello said.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, on the other hand, said he is for change but a parliament is his system of choice.
"With it (Parliament form of government), we can easily remove corrupt officials in the cabinet level even the president compared to what we have now," Dayanghirang said.
He said that in federalism final authority is divided between sub-units and a center. (With Peng Aliño/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 15, 2008 issue)
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