DILG to distribute federalism info materials

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 6 (PNA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will release within the first quarter of the year copies of information materials in a bid to raise public awareness on federalism.

DILG Eastern Visayas assistant regional director Artemio Caneja said there is ongoing production of advocacy materials at their central office for distribution to provinces.

The DILG field office here is studying the possibility of translating those materials into local dialects to help readers understand the advantages of the federal form of government.

"We will take the lead in raising public awareness and knowledge on the prominent features and principles of a federal form of government for people to attain the so-called informed decision,” Caneja told PNA.

DILG and private organizations have been conducting an information drive in all village officials, whose task is to bring the information to household level.

Last week, a delegation of DILG officials and local chief executives traveled to United States to meet with members of the federal government and familiarize themselves with the system.

In the region, the group consisted of Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan; Palompon, Leyte Mayor Ramon Oñate; and DILG Regional Director Marivel C. Sacendoncillo.

These government officials are expected to share their observations and experiences that would encourage local government units (LGUs) and the people to support federalism as a form of government.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been advocating for federalism to ensure more equal distribution of resources to provinces.

Under the federal system, LGUs can pursue potential investors without seeking approval or permission from the national government. LGUs will also have complete power over the creation and implementation of projects and programs.

When it comes to government administrators, every federal state shall be represented by six senators, who are elected by registered voters in a nationwide free elections. Aside from a total of 66 senators from the country’s 11 states, there will also be six senators that shall represent Metro Manila and nine overseas senators.

All in all, the federal Philippines shall have 81 senators. In addition, every federal state will have its own set of departments which are counterpart of the current government’s national departments.

Every state will also have a unicameral state legislature that will enact laws for the governance of the state and where three state legislators will represent every province and city and three sectoral representatives will represent farmers, fishermen and senior citizens in every province and city.

Despite the increase in number of senators and members of the House, revenue shares for the federal states and LGUs will increase, and the allocation of revenues will use all revenues – not only taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue – as basis, with the federal state getting 80 percent of the shares and the federal or national government 20 percent, according to DILG. (PNA) LAP/SQM/Franchette May M. Tolibas (OJT)