Pimentel Sr. says federalism is a complicated issue

Source: Damdaming Bayan with Milky Rigonan and Dr. Joe Taruc

Former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. said in an a radio interview Monday that the shift to a federal type of government is a long tedious process.

The federalism type of government is in the agenda of President-in-waiting Rodrigo Duterte (PDP-Laban).

Shifting to a federal form of government is next in the peace and order issues of the country is a campaign promise of Duterte.

Pimentel, a founding member of PDP-Laban, noted that the shift into federalism requires the tedious process of a constitutional amendment. According to him, Duterte must allocate the first two years of his term for this cause.

Lawmakers should amend the constitution and cannot do that by mere passage of law, according to Pimentel.

“My proposal would be for Duterte would be to assign the first two years of his presidency for a constitutional convention and then the next four years for implementation,” he said.

Pimentel said the proposed federal government for the Philippines will create roughly 11 federal states, particularly four in Luzon, four in Visayas and three in Mindanao.

Luzon will be broken down into the Northern Luzon, the Central Luzon, the Southern Tagalog and the Bicol Area. While Metro Manila will make up the federal capital.

The federal states in Visayas will include the Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Western Visayas. While the islands of Romblon and Palawan will be declared under the Visayas territory to form another federal state.

Mindanao will be composed of federal states of the Northern Mindanao and the Southern Mindanao, as well as a separate federal state for the Moro people.

Pimentel also explained that the proposed federal government will not affect the existing congressional districts, but the Senate will be composed of senators elected from the federal states. (JCA)