Surigao board backs shift to federalism

SANTIAGO, Agusan del Norte — The Agusan del Norte Provincial Board passed a resolution Friday urging Congress to call for a Constitutional Convention to adopt a presidential-federal form of government.

Lawyer Ramon Bungabong, author of the resolution said "this type of government has been shown to be highly disadvantageous to places away from Manila, where the seat of power is located, like Mindanao."

Co-authors of the measure include Provincial Board Members Dale Corvera, Hector Magtibay, Eladio Anino, Rogelio Dagani, Venerando Atupan, Francisco Rosales and Ernesto Ceniza.

"Studies showed that no less than 40 percent of the national income comes from Mindanao, yet it is one of the most underdeveloped areas in the country," the board members said.

The legislative body of Agusan del Norte said, there is a need to revert to federal form of government to enable Mindanao and the countryside to fasttrack growth and development.

Bungabong on the other hand claimed, a presidential-federal type of government will empower the local governments as well as the people themselves because many of the powers presently exercised by the national government will be devolved to local government units.

"With this empowerment provided by a presidential-federal form of government in local governance, the income generated in Mindanao will then be retained and be directly used for its development instead of remitting it to the national government," asserts Bungabong. — Ben Serrano