Federalism advocates want Congress seat as party-list

Advocates for federalism vowed to continue their campaign even beyond the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

From just being a movement, the National Alliance of Movements for Federalism (NAMFed, Inc.) is eyeing seats in the House of Representatives under the party-list system to bring its advocacy in Congress.

The Nagkakaisang Alyansa ng Masa sa Federalismo (NAMFed) has filed on April 30 before the Commission on Elections its application for registration as sectoral party-list and its participation in the 2019 Party-List Elections.

NAMFed is composed of NAMFed, Inc.; the Genuine Livelihood Initiative for the Masses (GenLIM) and Abanti Boholano, Inc.

NAMFed, Inc. executive vice president and Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr. said they are just preparing in case the shift to federal form of government will be protracted.

“If not realized, at least duna mi tingug sa Kongreso para ma-continue ang adbokasiya kay di man ni ma-sustain kung way mo-sustain,” said Diamante.

Diamante is the president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter and vice president for LMP-Visayas.

Diamante is confident that through the help of mayors nationwide and all chapters of federal movements, they can easily win three seats in the House of Representatives.

The shift to federalism campaign hit a snag when the senate did not agree to vote jointly with the lower house when the latter pushed to convert both houses into a constituent assembly.

Last Saturday, NAMFed, Inc. hosted the joint conference in Cebu City led by its national chairman, retired General Danilo Lim, the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

It was participated by leaders of Visayas Alliance of Federal Movements (VAFed), Cebu Movement for Federalism (CeMFed), Sugbuhanon Federalismo (SugbuFed), Inc., BarKaDa,Justice Victory Equality-Kakampi ng Mamayang Pilipino (JVE-Kampil) and Political Officers League of the Philippines (POL Phil).

NAMFed Secretary-General Rodolfo "Kid" Caneda revealed that as advocates for federalism, they will continue to hold activities while awaiting the Comelec decision for them to be lawfully declared as a party-list group.

"We have to hold activities, mga seminars and other programs para makita ang atung ginabuhat," Caneda said.

For his part, Lim is very optimistic on the group's direction as they have already organized many chapters nationwide.

"Maganda ang takbo natin mula nang magsimula tayo,” Lim said.

Once the NAMFed will be accredited as party-list group, Lim is expected to be its No.1 nominee.

Diamante, who is on his last term as mayor, is weighing his options.

NamFED has been very active in Cebu and Central Visayas owing to its several launching activities in Cordova, Naga, and Tuburan.

Among the group's stalwarts are Bohol Vice Governor Dionisio Balite, Mayor Dean Villa (Larena, Siquijor), Mayor Mary Therese Cho (Cordova), Mayor Ronald Cesante (Dalaguete) and Mayor Edcel Enardecido (Ayungon, Neg. Oriental).