A Franklin Quijano at DILG will help boost Duterte’s Federalism vision

If there’s one thing a Franklin Quijano can do at the helm of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is that he can (help) put Federalism to work for one and all, this interpretation comes from Jess Villarin Quijano, a relative of the mayor.

Jess Quijano was formerly assigned as the Comelec officer of Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental and Ozamiz City. He now resides in Iligan with his family.

In a message to The Philippine Preview, he said both President Rodrigo Duterte and Atty. Franklin Quijano have the people's interests in mind:  Power to the People, with the latter standing up for the brainchild of the president which is federalism.

He then made an inventory of advantages of Federalism like increasing citizen participation. “By not centralizing all power into the hands of a national government, but sharing that power with state governments, which are closer to the level of the common citizen, our founders actually increased a citizen’s ability to effect their government, government policy, and lawmaking.” 

Quijano also mentioned about “Direct and Proper Allocation of Budgets” under Federalism where the national government leaves the control of the budget needs and spending to each region.

In terms of “Diffusing Power, this form of federalism that we have in our country, where power is shared with state governments, and where the federal government is separated into three branches, serves as a means to make sure that all power is not centralized into a single person or group of people, since excessive power among a single group tends to be corrupting.” 

“A possible revolutionary government, granting PRRD special powers may simply be the way to ensure that Federalism becomes a reality,” he added.

“Its more than just a guiding principle, Atty. Quijano knows the Filipino citizens. He can put Federalism to work for one and all,” he ended. (MICHAEL MEDINA)