ARTHUR Aguilar, lone Negrense member of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution, said they are submitting today, July 9, to the president the final draft of the proposed federalism that includes the Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR) as one separate federated region.
"We will submit the draft in Malacañang where there will be a ceremony at 3:30 p.m.," Aguilar said.
He said that the NFR will include Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental plus Siquijor.
"We do not know what the president will do with our draft. Whether he will accept some of our recommendations or change some, we will wait for today," Aguilar said.
While NFR is included in the final draft, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher “Bong” Go assured the Negrenses yesterday, July 8, that he will help NFR to get the approval of Duterte.
"I am not authorized to comment as the draft will be submitted today. But if it is for the good of the country and for the good of the people, I will help through my personal capacity," Go said.
Go was a guest speaker yesterday in the Drug Summit organized by the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte (MRRD) in the province. It was attended by several mayors in the province including Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez, Bacolod Representative District Representative Greg Gasataya and Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano.
Aguilar, on the draft of federalism, said that the president will be the only national official who will be elected by the voting Filipinos during elections starting 2022 when the new Constitution will be in effect.
Because the new Constitution will give priority to political parties, whoever is the running mate or vice presidential candidate of the winning president will automatically win also.
NFR and other 17 federated regions will have two senators each, which means that all over the country there will be 36 senators.
The regional governor will be elected during the regional assembly while the provincial governors, the mayors, and other local officials will stay, Aguilar said.
The president down to the local officials will have a four-year term with a re-election, or a total of eight years if he or she gets re-elected.
As to the plebiscite, Aguilar said it would be determined by Congress. But he clarified that the May 2019 elections would still be under the 1987 Constitution unless Congress wants to change some provisions to change it.
He said that Congress may decide either to hold the plebiscite early than the May 2019 elections or hold it together in May.