GOVERNORS TEAM UP WITH PIMENTEL IN NATIONWIDE ROADSHOW ON FEDERALISM

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) will meet with leaders of the League of Provinces, led by league chairman, Misamis Occidental Governor Leo Ocampos, on Tuesday to map out a nationwide roadshow to promote the adoption of the federal system.

Pimentel said he is glad that the provincial governors have manifested interest and support for the federalism proposal which seeks to dismantle the highly centralized system of government and disperse the vast powers of government among the federal states that will be created.

He said he hopes to "hit the trail" and get the federalism proposal discussed with the people all over the nation after the Senate adjourns by June 13.

"I would like to go around the country and try to explain just what is the meaning of federalism because a lot of our countrymen do not yet understand what it is all about," the senator from Mindanao said.

The federalism proposal is contained in Joint Resolution No. 10, introduced by Pimentel and backed by 15 other senators, which calls for the convening of Congress into a Constituent Assembly to revise the 1987 Constitution.

The resolution envisions the creation of 11 federal states and one federal administrative region. There will be four states in Luzon, four in the Visayas and three in Mindanao.

The federalization of the country seeks to: 1. speed up the economic development of the nation; and 2. dissipate the armed insurgencies, especially the Muslim rebellion.

Pimentel said the governors will play an important role in enlightening the people about the features and advantages of federalism because of the tremendous influence they exert over their constituents.

He said one of the advantages is the modified sharing of the taxes, fees and other revenues collected by the government in which the federal (central) government will get 20 percent and the 11 federal states and local governments under them, 80 percent.

Pimentel, meanwhile, announced that he has written a new book, entitled "Federalizing the Philippines" which serves as a factbook on federalism.

In the 494-page book, Pimentel said he intends to show that the regions that are being merged and converted in federal states are not starting from scratch and that they have the basics to build on and sustain their viability as federal states.

The data contained in the book include (per state): (1) the number of local government units (LGUs); (2) their land areas; (3) population and ethnic diversities; (4) dominant languages; (5) airports and seaports; (6) road networks; (7) economic zones; (8) power sources; (9) major investments; (10) fishing, forestry and mining industries; (11) hotel and lodging houses; (12) telecommunication facilities; (13) banks; (14) hospitals; (15) educational institutions; (16) media facilities; and (17) increased shares of the revenues of the Republic for the States and their LGUs.

Aside from the governors, Pimentel said he will soon meet with the leaders of the League of Municipalities, League of Cities and the League of Barangays.

He will also hold similar discussions with the leaders of non-government organizations, civil society groups and other organizations which have expressed willingness to take party in the information and education campaign on federalism.

Pimentel said he also hopes to conduct a series of meetings with leaders of Muslim Mindanao, including officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, members of the academic community and the ulamas. He has already conferred with former ARMM Governor Nur Misuari on the federalism proposal.