‘Listening Tour’ begins DUTERTE PURSUES FEDERALISM ADVOCACY IN BUTUAN CITY FORUM

By Manny Pinol

Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, now the poster boy of the Federalism Movement in the country, starts his “Listening Tour” with a forum on federalism in Butuan City tomorrow, Jan. 22.

The Butuan City forum, which will start at 9 a.m. at the Doña Ynez Events Center, will be the first leg of a series of consultations which will bring Duterte and the Federalism Advocacy team to several areas in Mindanao, the Visayas and Luzon, including the island province of Palawan.

Duterte will be joined by Federalism stalwarts former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Reuben Canoy, former Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and the core leadership of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP).

The colorful and controversial Davao City Mayor, who is being pushed by many sectors and groups to consider the Presidency in the 2016 elections, has lately been very vocal and active in his advocacy for greater autonomy for the different regions of the country through the adoption of a Parliamentary Federal form of government.

The central argument of Duterte’s push for Federalism is the neglect of the different regions of the country by a Central Government which controls the distribution of national budget and resources.

“Here we are in the countryside trying to make ends meet, confronting the problems of insurgency and secession, and we hear how our national officials misuse their pork barrel,” Duterte emphasized.

“A Congressman who supported the Corona impeachment gets P300 million while a Senator is given P900-million. Kung ganito man lang maghiwa-hiwalay na lang tayo,” he said.

The other option is the establishment of a Parliamentary Federal system of government where the local government units get to retain a larger portion of their earnings.

Also speaking during the Federalism Forum is former Integrated Bar of the Philippines Governor for Mindanao Atty. Israelito Torreon who will speak on the legal and constitutional requirements for the establishment of a Parliamentary Federal Government.

The “Listening Tour” is also expected to be an opportunity for mayor Duterte to feel the pulse of the people amid the growing clamor for him to consider the Presidency.

While he has earlier flatly turned down suggestions for him to consider running for President, the Mayor of Davao City, now one of the Safest Cities in the World, has agreed to listen to the voice of the people.