THE shift to federal form of government will cost one state some P220 billion for the initial implementation of the new government system, a Federalism advocate said.
Architect Florencio Gavino III, consultant and convener of Kilos Pederal sa Pagbabago (KPP) said Monday, September 12, at the Kapehan Sa Dabaw in SM City-Ecoland that a single state initially needs the amount to be “economically viable.”
“During the two-day forum last September 8 and 9 wherein we convened some 60 participants across Mindanao we have estimated that amount of P220 billion,” Gavino said.
With this budget requirement per state, Gavino said that it would be viable “if we pushed for the five proposed states.”
“If we have only five states, the Philippines will only need some (P1.1 Trillion), that is within the national budget” he added.
Gavino also said of the recently-concluded Federalism forum, majority of the participants supports the proposal of making North Luzon (22 provinces), National Capital Region, Southern Luzon (19 provinces), Visayas (with 18 provinces) and Mindanao (with 26 provinces) as the five states.
Gavino added years ago the Department of Interior and Local Government pegged the budget per state at P90 B only but it was now doubled due to the increasing budget necessity in setting up a state under Federalism.
“If there is one state which is less capable economically, an ‘equalization fund’ will be implemented to help out those,” Gavino said adding he strongly believed that all the five states with all its rich resources are economically viable.
Lawyer Aristeo Albay of the KPP said the federal system “is the most suited for an archipelagic and culturally diverse country like the Philippines, a most superior system to face the challenges of the 21st century.”
Albay added there are two ways of Federalization: Bottom-Up and Top-Bottom approach.
“The top-bottom approach will be the Philippines’s approach to federalism,” Gavino said.
Gavino added the “no abolition of existing local government units and fragmentation of the nation” should be part of the criteria for the creation of states (or regions).
When asked on what models are recommended for a Federal-Parliamentary Government of the Philippines, the three conveners of the KPP underscored that Philippines must develop its very own unique model based on the diverse cultures, political experiences, physical make-up, and Filipinos idiosyncrasy, among others.
“For a Federal System of Government, our proposed models are the upgraded Bangsamoro Basic Law or Enabling Law and the Constitutions of Spain, Belgium and Pakistan,” the group said.
A study group was also formed during the two-day forum to draft the guidelines of the Federal-Parliamentary Government of the Philippines.