MANIIA, PHITIPPINES I THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2O2O
'Federal s tem
to help poverty
8y Jun Aparece
, The National Anti-Povety Commission
(NA?C) on Wednesd4y said the proposed
fedemlist setup of nin€ regions aqoss the
country would, without doubt, fast-track
the eradication of poverty.
"This is because the re$ons will have
a dtect hand in ad&essing the problem of
poveriy once and for all,' said SecrctarT
Noel K. Felongco, head of the NAPC.
As a government coordinating body,
the NAPC helps pursue the goals of the
Philippine Development Plan whose
ultimate mandate is lifting six million
Filipinos out of poYerty by 2022.
Felongco bared the forecast in a
message sent to regional NAPC offices,
saying ihe House proposal advocated
by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus
Rodriquez ought to be supported.
Professor Adrian M. Tamayo of the
Mindanao Development Authority said
that with nine regions, ueconornies of
scale for each region will be achieved,
ayerting the creation of poor regions
under the proposed federal system."
"With nine region, economic
integration of proximate geograbhic
areas would be easier, and the
operationalization of equalization
funds would be concentrated especially
in improving basic services and suDport
to sectors within the territory,'said
Tamayo, an economist who studied the
federal system in Europe.
The tlouse o[ Representatives has
revived the push for a federal system
,\ pnee- /etbc
of government as proposed by the
consultaiive commitree headed by
retired Chief Jusdce Reynato Puno. .
The committee on consl,itutioni'l
amendments, chaired by Rodriguez.
prQposed the creation of nine
regions instead of 16 under the Puno
Commission.
Dayao City-based architect Florencio
Gavino said l,he proposed 16 stares
is a recipe for disaster as it would
Iesult in poor regions and bloated
burcaucracies.
The Foposed nine regions would
be more viable economically, he said.
Rodriguez said the committee also
proposed the election of senators
by region, fotlowing the princiJile of
subsidiarity.