Duterte-Cayetano emphasizes need for federalism, regional development
Pledges to improve GenSan's tuna industry

"Economic growth should be felt by all regions, not just a select few. This is the reason federalism is the next logical step toward inclusive growth and maintaining order throughout the country."

This is what presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodigo Duterte said as he and his running mate Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano emphasized the important role of federalism and regional development in attaining inclusive growth.

"Regional development leading to federalism, kaya ko po nilagay dito 2020, gusto natin gumising tayo, sa year 2020 safe ang ating bansa lahat ng region natin ay maunlad at mayroon tayong Federal Republic of the Philippines," said Cayetano.

In an interview in General Santos on Sunday, January 17, Cayetano lamented how the region barely has P100 billion from the national budget, whereas Metro Manila has P1 trillion. The senator said that through federalism, power will be decentralized and distributed equally across regions, and with it, the budget.

"Sa ngayon lahat ng budget nasa Metro Manila, ang inyong region, wala pang 100 billion ang budget, samantalang sa Metro Manila, 1 trillion ang napupuntang pera. So maaasahan niyo sa isang Duterte-Cayetano tandem, iyong Mindanao Railway System, at iyong pondo, authority at tiwala ng lahat ng mga Pilipino, sa bawat region," said Cayetano.

For his part, Mayor Duterte said he and Cayetano will focus on enforcing the crackdown on illegal fishing in the province, explaining that the fishermen who follow the law are those who deserve all the benefits.

"Senator Cayetano and I will wage a war against crime and we will round up those who are leeching from whatever small amount that our industrious fishermen earn," said Duterte. "These criminals will wriggle like fish caught on dry land."

Cayetano added that he and Mayor Duterte will also work toward paying fishermen double the minimum wage in the region, as well as giving them hazard pay, on top of the commission that they receive based on their catch for the day.

"Sobra na ang kaguluhan sa kabuuang sistema. Ang kailangan ng bansa ay matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon. Mayor Duterte and I will pull out all stops to change the system, one industry, one region at a time," concluded Cayetano.