DILG sets town hall meetings on federalism
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) set town hall meetings in Pampanga and Isabela to continue educating people about the shift to a federal form of government that could promote agricultural development in the regions and improve rice production.
DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the DILG is conducting road shows for federalism on Sept. 26 in San Fernando, Pampanga and Sept. 27 in Cauayan, Isabela.
The economic potential of the regions has bogged down due to limited marketable products, lack of processing centers and inadequate market linkages.
“All these can be remedied by a federal shift. If we only give the regional government the power to implement programs and projects for its own agricultural sector, then we would see our farmers prospering under federalism,” said Malaya.
“The DILG road shows include media forums, ‘Pederalismoserye’ town hall meeting with basic sectors and caps off with a convention/rally for federalism,” Malaya said.
The DILG, tasked to spearhead the Duterte administration’s push for a federal form of government, has been conducting its federalism roadshows since June.
Malaya said Cagayan Valley has experienced erratic agricultural growth caused by weather disturbances and the effects of climate change.
In 2013 and 2014, the onslaught of several typhoons, coupled with the adverse drought brought by El Niño phenomenon in 2015, has affected the growth of the region’s agriculture sector.
Malaya said the Philippines had attained food security and better income for farmers in the past and federalism could solve the problems that prevent regional progress as a consequence of a system that concentrates decision-making on the central government.
“Each region has its own problems in agriculture, so the regional government is in the best place to offer solutions to region-specific problems,” said Malaya.
He said the power exercised by the national government would be spread out to empower the regions should the country make the decision to shift from a unitary setup to a federal one.
The regional governments would have the power and funds to invest in innovations, technologies and infrastructure that would assist farmers in plowing, planting, watering, fertilizing, harvesting and processing their own agricultural produce.
He cited the recent problem in the supply of cheaper National Food Authority (NFA) rice and its effect on inflation.
“We are an agricultural country with rice as our staple, but we continue to experience a crisis in the supply of affordable rice in the country,” said Malaya.
“The national government has been trying to solve the ever-pressing problem of rice supply and costs, but perhaps it’s time that the regional government calls the shots,” added Malaya.