Vice guv favors One Negros Federal State
BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco supports the move to change the Constitution to a federal form of government by province but not by region as a federal state.
Zayco said he supports the move to create a One Negros Federal State that would combine as one federal state the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces.
"This was planned long ago. Right now, there are already several access roads going to Negros Oriental. This would separate Negros Occidental from Region 6 (Western Visayas) where it belongs now," Zayco said.
He said the Panay Federal State can be composed of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras and Capiz provinces.
"I find it hard combining Negros with provinces like Antique, Guimaras and Capiz into one region state because the question then would be, who will subsidize them?," he said.
Zayco said he is supportive of the moves to change the present form of government to federalism because this would mean independence for the provinces.
"We can have independence in our revenues, in education, the police even the judiciary without going to the national government. This is good for the province," Zayco stressed.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he said, made mention about the drafting of a roadmap to federalism by year 2012.
Zayco said there were already local campaigns last year in support for federalism and he has been giving his support to such moves. (PNA)