MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor in chief
OZAMIZ CITY--The best thing for Mindanao is to have its own strong man to manage its vast resources and industrious people and Federalism is one sure way to achieve this.
Senate miniority floor leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., during his visit here last week for the “Symposium on Federalism: The Key to Rural Development,” says overconcentration of powers in the national government led to the misuse and maldistribution of economic wealth.
This neglect by the central government to other regions, especially Mindanao, he added, is the reason why the said areas are lagging behind Luzon in terms of development.
Pimentel likewise cited the present sharing of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which he said, will be reversed once the country shifts to the federal system.
“The adoption of a federal system will address the concerns of the people of Mindanao and the other areas of the country that their respective development efforts are being thwarted by the bias shown by Manila-based bureaucrats in favor of what is popularly called ‘imperial Manila’,” the senator added.
Earlier, Pimentel has earlier filed Joint Resolution 10 with 15 other senators seeking for the establishment of a federal system to be composed of 11 federal states and the conversion of Manila into a special administrative region.
According to Gov. Loreto Ocampos, the forum held at Naomi’s Botanical Garden, will mark the start of a road show in Mindanao and the Visayas on federalism organized by political and civic leaders of Mindanao.
The governor added federalization of the republic is long overdue and that the creation of the autonomous federal states will ensure judicious and optimum utilization of resources, foster competition among people and spur economic growth.
This week, the road show is making rounds in Iligan and then will proceed to Cagayan de Oro, Cebu cities and finally, Davao on Saturday.
Respective local government officials around Misamis Occidental as well as representatives of the various sectors and stakeholders attended the symposium.