CEBU Gov. Hilario Davide III believes that more consultations are needed before Cebu could become a lone federal state.
Davide said this following the statement of presidential legislative liaison secretary Adelino Sitoy that there is a possibility that Cebu could become a federal state if a new Constitution is approved.
Davide said he initially welcomes the idea as it would be favorable to Cebuanos, but he is also concerned if the constituents of Bohol and Siquijor would agree to the proposal.
He, however, does not agree to changing the current form of government to a federal one as smaller and less populated provinces will be at a disadvantage.
Davide said smaller provinces will have a disadvantage when it comes to electing their own regional governors, representation in the regional assembly and the Senate.
“Tinuod nga dili labad para sa Cebu. Pero ato sad paminawon ang sentimento sa taga Bohol ug Siquijor (It’s true, Cebu will benefit, but we also have to hear what people from Bohol and Siquijor have to say),” Davide added.
In his newspaper column, lawyer and SunStar Cebu Public and Standards Editor Pacheco Seares said he was told by Sitoy that members of the consultative committee (ConComm) are “receptive” to the proposal to turn Cebu into a lone federal state.
If Cebu becomes a lone federal state, it will get benefits such as having two Senate seats and its own regional assembly.
Sitoy also said that Bohol could be lumped together with Eastern Visayas while Siquijor and Negros Oriental will be lumped together with Negros Occidental to create the Negros Island Region (NIR).
In earlier interviews, Davide, like his father retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., opposed moves to change the form of government.
He suggested to instead strengthen the Local Government Code of 1991. (JKV)