THE Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked to review the 1987 Constitution on Tuesday approved 18 political units under a proposed Philippine federal government.
The Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR) is among the 17 approved “symmetrical” federal regions, said ConCom spokesman Ding Generoso.
The other one is the “asymmetrical” region of Bangsamoro and Cordillera.
Generoso said Bangsamoro and Cordillera have different designs from other regions because of their “identity-based demands.”
He added that the federal regions will be headed by a regional governor, a deputy and a regional legislative assembly.
Under the proposal, each regional government will have exclusive power over socioeconomic development planning, revenue source creation, financial administration and management, and tourism, investment and trade development.
Each regional government will also enjoy exclusive power over infrastructure, public utilities and public works, economic zones, land use and housing, the justice system, local government units, business permits and licenses, municipal waters, indigenous peoples’ rights and welfare, culture and language development, sports development, and parks and recreation, Generoso added.
The federal regions will also have the power to levy and collect the following taxes, licenses, and fees – real property tax, estate tax, donor’s tax, documentary stamp tax, professional tax, franchise tax, environmental tax, pollution tax, road users tax, vehicle registration fees, transport franchise fees, local taxes, and other dues that may be granted under federal law.
Former president Benigno Aquino III merged Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental through Executive Order (EO) 183 in 2015, making the Negros Island Region.
But last year, President Rodrigo Duterte revoked the EO.
Negros Occidental returned as part of Western Visayas (Region 6) while Negros Oriental, as part of Central Visayas (Region 7)./PN
