LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to shift to a federal form of government in the country got a strong backing from the Kilusang Pagbabago (KP)-Ifugao Chapter.
The Kilusang Pagbabago-Ifugao Chapter is one of the newly-formed groups in the private sector currently advocating for the federalism plan. It is based in the capital town of Lagawe.
“The Kilusang Pagbabago-Ifugao Chapter’s approach to the issue on federalism is indeed holistic,” KP-Ifugao Chapter president Rolando Paligan said.
“In light of the contending concerns on how to amend the constitution, there is a need to speed up the discussion on the merits of the proposed plan to shift to a federal form of government for the enlightenment of the people,” he added.
At a recent meeting at Robin’s Kitchen and Café in Lagawe, KP-Ifugao Chapter’s officers passed a resolution outlining the group’s full and unqualified support to the federalism plan.
Easily, the group’s act rightly gave the chapter a rich place in history for being the first Kilusang Pagbabago chapter to make a categorical stand on the federalism issue.
“Federalism is largely viewed as integral to the overall effort of ensuring the growth and development in the country,” they stressed in the resolution.
“It has been observed that most government resources have been allotted to the already highly-developed National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila,” they also pointed out.
To date, there is only one chapter of the Kilusang Pagbabago in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). There are already a number of KP chapters in the Philippines. The country has 81 provinces.
The KP’s forerunner is Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr. The former rebel priest is a staunch supporter of President Duterte. He was once a mayor of Maribojoc, Bohol.
It is in the context of transformational leadership that non-government organizations (NGOs) as this one becomes particularly valuable as a role model in an underdeveloped country like the Philippines. Truly, the KP-Ifugao Chapter is fortunate to be inspired and motivated by Secretary Evasco, a man with a longstanding reputation as a well-meaning leader and a non-traditional politician or not a trapo. Secretary Evasco is the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chair. Under his watch, Evasco was able to achieve the government’s plan to provide housing to those who need it most. He has been described by many as a person of integrity and competence.
“We at the Kilusang Pagbabago in Ifugao province are thankful to have the full force of the Office of the Participatory Governance- under the strong leadership and guidance of Director IV Victorio Jericho Cawis, ready to educate and enlighten our people on the vitality of the federal type of government,” Emerita Dunuan-Allaga said.
“We are ready and willing to give our people valuable information on why the unitary or presidential form of government is no longer a viable option for the Filipino people,” she added.
“This is indeed a very enriching experience for all of us,” she underscored. Mrs. Allaga, a civic leader of Lamut, is the chapter’s administrative and finance officer.
For his part, public relations officer David Dumangeng said countless socio-economic benefits of the people exacted from the federalism plan were taken into account in the group’s decision to give its nod.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Dumangeng in motioning the high stakes of informing well the people on the pros and cons of the federalism issue, likewise anticipates a heightened level of interest in the debates as “many of our countrymen now see the need, as well as practicality of discarding the presidential type of government.”
Views of articulate and vibrant leaders in the private sector like this one from Dumangeng are largely fueling meaningful discussions on the federalism issue in this part of the country. The discussion in the public sector, however, is virtually unheard of.
Genuinely interested in the people’s development, Dumangeng primarily directed the meeting’s lively banter on the federalism issue, particularly on the drafting of the new charter and the plebiscite campaign.
At the “acquaintance and bonding” meeting, Dumangeng said KP-Ifugao Chapter’s barangay coordinators have “an important role” in the dissemination of information “more so in far-flung barangays where there are no radios and television sets.”
Taking note of the observation of this scribe on how essential are information materials in the plebiscite campaign period, Dumangeng said KP-Ifugao Chapter officers are to “champion the cause of President Duterte in each barangay in Ifugao.”
“We shall explain to the people in the barangay, no matter how small or distant, the national vision and agenda of the federalism plan,” he added.
Dumangeng said the KP-Ifugao Chapter would work hard to make the “Yes” votes win in the province in a plebiscite, but expressed worry that the group’s logistics are not enough to sustain such a tedious electoral exercise set in a largely mountainous terrain.
Simply translated, the KP-Ifugao Chapter’s latest pronouncements amount to just another clear-cut outpouring of support for the Chief Executive.
It doesn’t help if such plea falls on deaf ears.
Dumangeng said the federalism shift, through a constitutional convention (con-con) or constitutional assembly (con-ass) mode, is the key to addressing key problems of the country.
While the House of Representatives and the Senate are presently at odds on how to vote on contentious issues related to federalism and charter change, the two chambers of Congress nonetheless is providing excitement on the anticipated heated deliberations related to the issue.
Federalism proponents say the imbalance of the Internal Revenue Allocations (IRA) shall be addressed readily upon the installation of the planned 13 federal states. Opponents warned that a federal form of government is unfit in the country and shall only create more political dynasties.
Under the plan, the Northern Luzon Federal State is composed of Cagayan Valley Region, CAR and Ilocos Region.
KP-Ifugao Chapter’s officers strongly contended that poverty incidence and the system of running or operating the government are interrelated.
By province, Ifugao still remains one of the poorest not just in the CAR and northern Luzon but, throughout the Philippines. The wide disparity between the rich and poor is so glaring in the province’s 176 barangays, meaning municipal and provincial government officials have a dismal record in curbing the poverty problem. While highly-placed officials are loudly proclaiming their support and loyalty to President Duterte, they are not doing anything significant to make a dent on the plight of many who are experiencing abject poverty in remote, underdeveloped villages.
“Why are these ‘good-for-nothing’ officials running the affairs of the government and as a result are ruining our lives?” a Hungduan resident, who sought anonymity, asked. The resident, who expressed her intent to join the Kilusang Pagbabago, was interviewed at a nearby business establishment.
The officers of the KP-Ifugao Chapter are all for the need to study and revisit thoroughly the 1987 Constitution to see and analyze the real reasons why the shift to federalism is significant in the people’s lives.
The other KP-Ifugao Chapter officers include Jose Nabejet Jr., vice president; Angeline Guinid, secretary; Henry Gano, treasurer; Antonio Habawel, auditor and Agustin Calya-en, program director.
“We are glad that our members in the grassroots level are willing and ready to answer the call to take part in the discussions of all related issues,” Nabejet told the ZigZag Weekly.
A number of barangay coordinators of Hingyon town also attended the meeting. They were led by Marcos Bantiyan.
Other key organizational concerns were also tackled in the meeting.** By Anthony A. Araos
