IF a federal form of government were to be implemented in the country, Cebu should be made an independent state to make Cebuanos fully enjoy the benefits of federalism, said Governor Hilario Davide III.
Davide said he agrees with the proposal of Secretary Adelino Sitoy, presidential adviser on Legislative Affairs and head of the Presidential Legislative Liason Office (PLLO), to make Cebu a lone federated region and make Bohol province part of the state of Eastern Visayas.
“I believe Cebu can stand on its own as a state,” he said.
“Kun gusto gyud sa katawhan nga bag-ohon ang Constitution ug ang porma sa gobyerno, katong sugyot ni Sec. Addy. Maayo kaayo ug pabor kaayo na sa Cebu. At least wala na tay ka share (Should the people decide to amend the constitution and the form of government, we might as well go with the suggestion of Asec. Addy. That suggestion is very beneficial to Cebu. At least we no longer have to share anything with anybody),” the governor added.
Davide, who was among the local executives who attended a forum called by the Constitutional Commission (ConCom) on Friday to brief Cebu leaders on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution, said he remains unconvinced of the planned federalism.
Under the proposal, Cebu and Bohol will form part of the state of Central Visayas.
The provinces of Siquijor and Negros Oriental will form part of the Negros Island state.
In a speeh in Friday’s forum, Sitoy expressed fear of Cebu being accused of being “imperial Cebu” if Cebuanos share the Central Visayas state with the Boholanos.
Cebu that now has a five million population is much bigger than Bohol that only has a population of only 1 million inhabitants.
ConCom’s Senior Technical Officer Wendell Adrian Tamayo said Sitoy’s proposal will need the approval of Congress.
“I believe that if Cebu really wants to become a lone provincial federation, you can go to Congress. We provided the Congress the power to merge, create, abolish federated regions,” Tamayo said.
Tamayo said the committee already submitted the final draft of the federal constitution to President Rodrigo Duterte on July 3.