Cayetano: Federalism to propel countryside development
Vice Presidential candidate and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano believes that Cebu and other provinces will only benefit from the national fund if the system of government is changed to federalism.
"Our program also includes regional development. We also have to start thinking for northern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Hindi panay Metro Manila lang," said Cayetano during an open forum with the students of Cebu Doctors' University.
Cayetano’s statement was made after some students asked why problems such as traffic congestion, poor justice system, high tuition, corruption in government and others have not been solved.
He said that under the present system, the imperial Manila decides which projects and how much funding go to Cebu and other provinces.
He cited the expansion project of the Mactan Cebu International Airport where the bidding was held in Manila. He added that even the income of the MCIA goes to Manila and only gets a share from it.
According to Cayetano, under the federal government which he and his runningmate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are pushing, the scenario will be changed. Cebu will get the whole share of the MCIA income and only gives a percentage to the national government.
He said through the federal system Cebu will have more funding for important projects and programs for its people. Cayetano also pointed out the national budget wherein the biggest chunk goes to Manila.
Cayetano said that out of the P3.3 trillion budget, P1 trillion was allocated to Metro manila while the other regions were only given less than P100 billion. If the present system continues, Cayetano said that Metro Manila will always get the lion’s share of the budget.
He said that with federalism, students can benefit like those in Taguig City where elementary and high school students get free clothing allowance, school supplies, among others.
Cayetano said that if he and Duterte win, some national agencies will be transferred out of Manila. He said the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources should be moved to Mindanao while the Department of Tourism should be transferred to Cebu or any part in the Visayas.
"Bakit nasa Manila ang Department of Agriculture? Ano ba’ng tinatanim dun? Bala lang naman ang tinatanim sa NAIA," he said.
He said even national hospitals for patients suffering from kidney or heart ailments are in Manila.
"Wala bang may sakit sa kidney, lungs o heart dito sa Cebu? O e di bakit kelangan pa ng mga pasyente na mahihirap na pumunta ng Manila para lang mapagamot dun," he said.
Meanwhile, Cayetano has challenged other presidential candidates to show their health and financial records.
He said Duterte is willing to reveal his health and financial records for transparency.
"Dun sa mga nagsasabing kailangan ipakita ni Mayor Duterte ang kanyang health record, dapat sila din ipakita nila ang kanilang health record, financial record. Dapat ang mga kandidato, kilalangkilala ng mga taong-bayan. Like si (Vice Pres. Jejomar) Binay, ipakita din niya ang kanyang financial record, why he has so many billions. Si Grace Poe, what about her record, kailan siya nanunumpa sa America," said Cayetano.