ILOILO CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is ready to take on its role in the all-out drive for federalism even as it has already saturated Iloilo City’s 180 barangays for the Federalism 101 campaign.
Atty. Ferdinand Panes, Director of DILG-Iloilo City, on Thursday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has assigned the DILG to serve as the lead agency in the advocacy.
He said that they started initial orientations in the barangays right after the President has assumed his post. Even in meeting with barangay sessions, they always see to it to advocate basic federalism.
Federalism 101 talks about what federalism is all about, countries that succeeded under federalism when compared with the presidential form of government, and structure of governance.
He added that during their orientation, the utmost concern of barangay officials was the existence of the barangay under federalism, amid information being floated that barangays will be dissolved.
“Based on the presentation, barangays will get strengthened under federalism. Like Western Visayas, it can survive as a regional government,” he said.
He said should they conduct a second round, they would already be tackling federalism based on the draft constitution.
He added that while the draft was prepared by the consultative committee, they have to wait until Congress approves it.
“We are ready anytime to talk about federalism but not the way others do it,” he said.
He added that the DILG has created an office “basically in preparation for the all-out campaign for federalism”. (Perla Lena/PNA)
