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[av_heading heading=’Federalism not a priority in Senate – Drilon ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – The proposed shift to a federal form of government from the current unitary system is “not a legislative priority” in the Senate, according to Franklin Drilon.
“Walang official proposal ang Malakanyang,” the Senate minority leader said.
President Rodrigo Duterte and several of his allies – mostly in the House of Representatives – have been pushing for the shift.
According to Duterte, the new system would ensure the even distribution of economic gains across the country.
The proposed federal government was never discussed among senators, said Drilon.
“Ang alam kong nagtutulak ng federalism ay si (Senate President Aquilino) Pimentel (III) na adbokasiya nilang mag-ama,” Drilon said.
“Si Senator (Manny) Pacquiao nagsusulong din, pero the rest of the 21 senators hindi pinag–uusapan iyan dahil walang proposal mula sa Malakanyang,” he said.
It is “too soon” to talk about which form of federal government should be employed, the Ilonggo senator added.
Pimentel, a Duterte party-mate in the PDP-Laban, was pushing for a bicameral legislature allowing the election of members of the lower chamber by district and a delegate to represent a region in the upper house.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, on the other hand, preferred a unicameral body to speed up the legislative process.
“I think it’s too premature to talk about [the proposal],” Drilon said./PN
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