TACLOBAN CITY- While he is supportive on the move towards federalism, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla admitted that he still has some reservations on this plan.
Petilla said that what he would like to clarify is on sharing of income between the federal state or province and the central government, among others.
“I am supporting federalism but I have some concern about it which the proponents are not giving us details like on the sharing agreement. How much are we really going to keep and how much are we going to give to the (central) government,” the governor said.
At present, all local government units receive their share on income through the collection of internal revenue allotment which varies depending on a formula stipulated under the Local Government Code.
The Leyte governor said that he would like to be clarified on this aspect on income sharing under the federal system.
President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies in both House of Representatives and the Senate are pushing to convert the current form of government to federalism through Charter Change.
But this move towards federalism is being questioned by some sectors saying, among others, this could lead to some politicians to stay in office for years and would only economically discriminate regions which are classified as poor like Eastern Visayas.
But Petilla said that with a ‘federal state’ giving more control, this could lead for its economic development as it is now responsible in managing its own resources.
It was learned that all the governors and mayors from the Visayas and Mindanao are scheduled to meet with the President on February 12 in Cebu City.
As what could be the agenda of the meeting, it is not clear yet though the issue on federalism is expected to be discussed. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
