Minda massive info drive on federalism

THE Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) is on a major dissemination drive with regards federalism as one of the priorities of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Minda public relations head Adrian Tamayo said a series of public consultations and seminars regarding the systematic change to federalism have been organized by the Minda with All-Moro Convention.

Tamayo said they are currently developing a federal framework founded on economic sustainability, preparing constitutions for the regional governments where every citizen has access to information on what the government is doing.

The public consultations so far scheduled are in General Santos City on July 20, Surigao City on July 24, Cagayan de Oro City on July 27, Zamboanga City on July 31 and Palawan on August 6.

In these public consultations, Tamayo said, the Minda wants to create awareness and sense of ownership and sense of accountability of the future form of government.

“People must know how we will get there and what the real promises are, which we believe it should always be founded in development perspective and growth potentials and culture and historical sense of Mindanao,” Tamayo said.

Tamayo said in two months’ time they will be submitting the Draft State Constitution for the proposed Federal States in Mindanao.

He said the Minda’s proposed five states under the federal form of government which are the State of South-Central, State of Northern Mindanao, State of Western Mindanao, Bangsamoro State, and State of Palawan.

“The pursuit is focused on the development of the regional government in taking actions, to immediately respond to the needs of its constituents and to further expand economically,” Tamayo said.

Minda chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto said they are more than determined to operationalize the policy directive of the President to push for the shift to a federal form of government.