Senate might cut federal regions from 18 to four
BACOLOD CITY — The Senate may reduce to four the 18 federated regions, as recommended by the Constitutional Commission, to be created under the proposed shift to federal form of government.
Senate majority floor leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, in his visit to Bacolod City this week, revealed that many senators opposed to the creation of 18 federated regions, as they are looking into the survivability of smaller regions.
Under the proposed federal system of government, Zubiri said the federated regions will no longer receive Internal Revenue Allotment from the national government.
Among the 18 federated regions recommended is the Negrosanon Federated Region, consisting of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor provinces.
Zubiri said the senators are incline to favor more the creation of bigger federated regions, such as Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the Bangsamoro area, which are capable of sourcing out their respected internal generated funds.
He added that the bigger federated regions may afford to pay the IRA of provinces, cities and municipalities under it. “So, it is something that we have to study hard,” Zubiri said.
As to the creation of the proposed Negros Federated Region, Zubiri said he has no idea if the income generated from the sugar industry here would be enough. He suggested that the Bureau of Internal Revenue should be asked for the total income collected by the government from Negros Occidental and Oriental, and to compute the IRA alone of all local government units in these provinces, excluding the teachers compensation and development fund.
“If your income is bigger than IRA and others, then we can survive, If not, Negros will end up in bankruptcy, and it may resort, and may even derail plans of LGUs to develop their respective areas,” Zubiri told Negrenses.
“Maybe we have to rethink our position, and maybe we have to consolidate the regional areas into one bigger area, like Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Bangsamoro area,” Zubiri added.
Of the 18 proposed federated regions, he said they are estimating that only six can survive, including Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, National Capital Region, and maybe Region 7 and the Davao region.
In Region 6, only cities of Bacolod and Iloilo have generated income, Zubiri said, adding that he is not aware of the Negros Oriental income. “While I want Negros region and others,” he asked, “can they survive on their own?”