Wanted: Federalism info drive volunteers

The government is willing to accept volunteers who will help raise public awareness on the proposed federal form of government.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said any interested person could contact his office or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to join the federalism information drive.

Andanar said they plan to train the volunteers and provide them with materials about proposed shift to federal government to ensure an effective and consistent information campaign.

“We need volunteers. Wala hong ina-out dito [No one will be forced out]. Federalism is for every Filipino. It’s for you and me. It’s for the entire country. So the more volunteers, the better,” he said in a radio interview.

He noted that PCOO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson could still join the information campaign if she wants to help despite her controversial federalism video.

“Kung gusto ni Mocha na sumali at mag-volunteer, walang problema [If want Mocha wants to join and volunteer, there is no problem]. It is open for everyone,” he added.

Andanar, however, said the interagency task force would still finalize the communication campaign strategy on federalism.

He said the group, that includes the Office of the Executive Secretary, DILG, PCOO and some members of the consultative committee that drafted the federal Constitution, would hold another meeting this week to tackle the campaign.

“It’s just a matter of making the message of federalism consistent at official na galing sa interagency para po we are all in one page, para hindi po tayo nalilito, naliligaw,” he said.

Andanar said the inter-agency committee intends to discuss the “branding” of the federalism campaign, choice of official spokespersons, training manual, radio and television advertisements, spokesperson, media partners, among others.