The consultant of the Davao-based People’s RevGov for Real Democracy (PRRD) said the only way to avoid the pitfalls raised by President Duterte’s economic team on federalism is to stick to just six federal regions.
“There is economic viability for six regions while only disaster awaits this country if it insists on 18 weak federal regions,” said Architect Florencio “Chito” Gavino.
Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has warned against possible irreversible economic consequences of the draft federal constitution for “its ambiguous and unclear” fiscal provisions.
He told the Senate that the country’s investment-grade credit ratings “may go to Hell” under the very confusing fiscal provisions.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana scored the lack of information on federalism, saying majority of Filipinos are not aware on what federalism was all about.
Gavino had earlier warned that the 18-region composition proposed by Consultative Committee was a recipe for disaster as it would tend to bloat the bureaucracy.
The six proposed regional regions in addition to the Bangsa Moro includes Northern Luzon, National Capital Region, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao-Palawan.
“This would rationalize the political structure,” he said.
He also warned that politics-wise, Concom’s proposal would mean 18 federal governors, 18 regional vice-governors and 18 sets of regional board members.
“On top of this, thousands of government officials and employees in the administration of the federal national and 18 regional governments will have to be appointed,” he said.
He warned this may lead to the explosion of the bureaucracy since it would mean more taxes from the people.
