An intensive information campaign on federalism has kicked off nationwide to educate various sectors of society, especially the underprivileged, down to the barangay level on the merits and benefits of a federal Philippines.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas secretary-general Thompson Lantion said in a press statement “we are launching this nationwide campaign to properly inform and educate our people why federalism can be an effective solution to our country’s lingering problems.”
Lantion is a former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairperson under the Arroyo administration.
He asked: “The Philippines is such a rich and blessed country in terms of natural and human resources. Why is it then that majority of our people remains to be miserable and suffering in poverty? “Does the distribution of wealth or government resources, among our people, in a way related to this problem?
“Is there really an equitable sharing of resources among the national and local government today?
“Is the type or form of government or even our very own Constitution be the key to the ultimate liberation of our people from perennial poverty?”
President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to shepherd the Philippines toward federalism as a form of government, a path for growth, particularly in Mindanao.
Based on studies done by the Legatum Institute’s 2018 Prosperity Index, among those included in the list of the world’s topmost prosperous nations were countries with a federalist form of government.
“We are mobilizing our national organization at the regional, provincial, municipal and even down to the barangay level in this massive PFP campaign. We therefore are appealing to our people to start the crucial discussions on federalism nationwide. It is about time for everybody to be involved on this,” Lantion said.