Duterte supporters join forces for federalism shift

The National Alliance of Movements for Federalism (NAMFed) and the alliance of President Rodrigo Duterte supporters, headed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, have joined forces to support the president’s agenda in his remaining four years in power.

NAMFed is now the official partner of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (NHP) and Tapang at Malasakit Alliance, both led by the presidential daughter, in their awareness drive on federalism.

NAMFed is headed by Danilo Lim, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, and Tuburan, Cebu Mayor Democrito "Aljun" Diamante, who sits as the president of the Visayas Alliance of Federal Movements.

Diamante said Mayor Duterte welcomed NAMFed during the recently-concluded League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Mindanao cluster held at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City.

Diamante, who also sits as the president of the League of Municipalities in Cebu, said they presented Cebu cluster’s accomplishments in the past six months since the federalism movement was launched here in December last year.

He said the six of Cebu’s seven districts have already adopted the movement. These are the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh congressional districts.

But Diamante said the movement will soon be launched in the fifth district, which covers the city of Danao and the towns of Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, Sogod, and Tudela.

“We are just waiting for the schedule of former senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, the frontrunner of federalism, so we start planning for the launching in the fifth district,” he said.

He explained that launching the movement for federalism in every district is aimed at reaching out to the grassroots level.

NAMFed is non-partisan whose main agenda is to support Duterte's federalism.

Among the advantages of a federal form of government is the spread of economic opportunities outside of Metro Manila, said Diamante. —