Cebu could be center of federal gov’t’

	9/12
By Doris C. Bongcac CORRESPONDENT Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia opened yesterday's forum on federalism organized by the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) by declaring that Cebu could very well serve as the seat of a new government. “I don't mean to suggest that in these times of lively discussions on federalism and regional self autonomy that Cebu aims to be the capital of what may be perceived as a future state, but if Governor Sally (Antique Gov. Salvacion Perez) would so move, then I would not object,” said a grinning Garcia. While discussions continue, Governor Garcia said that Cebu could very well become the center of federalism in the country. Garcia said that she and other Visayas governors were already trying to exercise autonomy from the national government while they cooperate with each other under the One Visayas program. Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Ocampos, LPP president, said that most of the governors from the Visayas and Mindanao agree on the need to adopt a federal form of government in the country. But they disagree in opinion on how the change should be done — through a constitutional assembly or a constitutional amendment. How a change in government would affect economics in the countryside, local autonomy and address the armed conflict in Mindanao are other vital questions. “We are opening the discussions. Hopefully this would lead to a more serious discussion that would be prioritized in the House of Representatives and also in the Senate. Hopefully we can rally the Filipino nation in drafting a different form of government,” said Palawan Gov. Joel Reynes, the league's executive vice president. Ocampos said governors from Mindanao earlier expressed the desire to adopt a federal form of government to address the Bangsamoro issue. “We are not enjoying the present form of government that we have. So we are looking at alternatives and this is one of the alternatives that we are considering,” said Reynes. Reynes said the LPP was also trying to be cautious since majority of the governors are pro-administration. “Hopefully our friends (from the opposition) would not once again paint this as another step and movement led by the present administration, because it is not,” he said. According to Reynes, the LPP only wanted an alternative to strengthen the present presidential form of government. The forum, Ocampos said was a good venue for them to listen and be informed. Later they intend to involve the different sectors in their discussions. “As of this moment, the LPP does not have any specific, exact or definite position on what is the specific direction of federalism (that we wanted to adopt),” said Ocampos. source: cdn