BACOLOD. Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca (standing), who celebrated his birthday yesterday, with well-wishers Negros Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez (left) and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson. (Carla N. Cañet Photo)

NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez underscored the importance of shifting to a federal form of government, saying that all the resources and funds go to the National Government and not to the local governments.

Benitez joined House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other congressmen for the oath-taking of some 4,000 village leaders in Bacong, Negros Oriental as members of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Thursday.

In his speech, he said should there be a change in the Constitution, all resources and funds will directly go to the local government, which will benefit the people.

“One thing we have to do is to understand the concept of federalism, meaning if we understand what federalism means, what it means to us, what it will benefit us, we will not miss this chance,” he said.

Benitez pointed out that federalism is the only way for the local government units to significantly improve their resources.

Federalism means decentralization wherein the power and resources of the National Government will go down to the local government units (LGUs), he added.

Under a 30-year-old presidential form of government, the Internal Revenue Allotment that goes back to the local governments is only 17 percent, when the supposed sharing should be 60 percent for the national and 40 percent local government.

If federalism gets implemented, the LGUs will surely benefit from it thus, he urged everyone to grab the opportunity to support federalism because this concept and structure is beneficial to the LGUs, Benitez said.

In Negros Occidental, almost all of the officials led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. are supporting the proposed shift to federalism.

The federal form of government ensures more equal distribution of resources to provinces.

At present, the House of Representatives is readying the draft amending the Constitution to make way for the federal form of government. (MPE/CNC)