Malacanang today threw its full support behind Senate Resolution No. 10 calling for the convening of Congress into a constituent assembly to revise the Constitution and pave the way for the adoption of a Federal System of government.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza made this statement saying, “it’s all systems go” for Senate Resolution No. 10, entitled, “Joint resolution to convene the Congress into a Constituent Assembly for the purpose of revising the Constitution to establish a Federal System of Government.”
Dureza also made it clear that the proposed Federal System of government is not intended to prolong President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s hold on power, as administration critics claim.
Principally authored by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., along with 11 other senators, stressed that “the federalization of the Republic would speed up the development of the entire nation and help dissipate the causes of the insurgency throughout the land, particularly, the centuries-old rebellions.”
They also noted that under the present system of government as mandated by the 1987 Constitution, the “country’s development programs are centrally determined, planned, funded and implemented by the national government in Manila.”
The Senate resolution hopes to create 11 states as also centers of finance and development in the archipelago.”
The 11 proposed states are the State of Northern Luzon; State of Central Luzon; State of Southern Tagalog; State of Bicol; State of Minparom (Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon); State of Eastern Visayas; State of central Visayas; State of Western Visayas; State of Northern Mindanao; State of Southern Mindanao; and State of Bangsamoro. (PIA/Bohol)