Friday, August 15, 2008 Pangan: Shift By Benjie R. Pangan At Close Range
DESPITE the myriad of problems we are confronted with daily, we never lack in initiative and inventiveness especially in the form of our government and the clamor to shift from the republic style to one favoring federalism.
The same form of government used by the United States, Germany and other progressive countries.
On this subject, I remember vividly the efforts of Atty. Ely Pamatong and federalist adherents to force the issue of shifting to federal form of government.
With the current clamor of our Muslim brothers in Mindanao to forge a MOA to reinforce their autonomous stance, with secessionist overtures from some sectors, which is understandable, given their mentality and upbringing, the issue is now hot on the probable shift to federalism.
No less than President GMA who has advocated federalism as a favorable alternative to solve divisiveness, citing a modus vivendi the need for the Philippines to catch up with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
She justified this claim by saying: "From our present situation as an archipelago, the next transition is now to gear towards a wider distribution of economic zones such as those pioneered successfully right here in China, then towards autonomy and then to statehood".
There are pros and cons to this grand idea and only the events transpiring after this pronouncement can validate each side of the issue.
I must say that the success of one government can only be done or achieved by the people themselves who are after all the source of sovereignty.
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Good news for SSS members. It is encouraging to know that newly appointed SSS President Romulo Neri has ordered the resumption of the production of identification cards which were due as early as August 2007.
Neri has instructed concerned SSS officials to eliminate the backlog of about 700,000 IDs before the year-end.
Good news indeed, di ba, Ms. Laura Mariano?
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No worry for MSMEs this time. Micro, small and medium enterprises, especially start-ups who have difficulty getting bank loans due to lack of collateral, will now have easier access to these loans.
How? SB Corporation has developed a risk-based lending approach so that beginners can get loans even if they lack property or land to pawn.
Under this approach, collateral will no longer be a main determinant of borrower eligibility.
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Thanks for the opportunity given the Mabalaquenos by Metro Gaisano personnel last August 12 at the Peso office in Marina, Dau. Also to the operators of Grande Island, particularly Mr. Francis Elum for the opportunity given to my townmates to work in that first-class enclave in Subic.
