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| Dela Cruz, Tizon and Obar grace forum. |
LANAO DEL SUR—Hugpong Federal Movement of the Philippines, this province led by Raisa B. Maruhom, provincial director, organized forum on federalism at Elena Tower in Iligan City Saturday, January 7.
As provincial director, Maruhom felt it is her
responsibility to orient the people in the place in support to the present
administration’s advocacy.
Graced by Celso Tizon, national chairman of Hugpong
Federal Movement of the Philippines, about 200 key leaders and volunteers
attended the occasion.
In his speech, Tizon said the group needs to unite in
support with the advocacy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shifting to
federalism to address inequitable development in the country.
Tizon said the solution to inequality is to
decentralize economic operations and other items to have an equitable
development, thus, criminality maybe reduced.
Meanwhile Atty. Joel Obar, national legal counsel of
Hugpong, said the benefit on federalism is that the state can maximize the
utilization of their natural resources for their welfare.
He said the Philippine Constriction adopted the Regalian
Doctrine which hold all natural resources belong to the State.
Obar added no amount of autonomy under the local
government code can impose such policy, except under federal form of government.
On the other hand, Vergilio S. Dela Cruz, secretary
general of Hugpong, said the creation of the movement is on voluntary bases and
is now registered with the Security Exchange Commission.
Dela Cruz said Hugpong FederaL Movement of the
Philippines is a movement organized which no money involves, except the
collection of fifty pesos for the payment of IDs. He said the payment of ID is
a counterpart of the its members for the printing and layouting cost.
Lugus Mayor Hadar Hajiri, board of trustee and who
is also with the group, inspired the audience with his speech that under
federalism people would have most of its natural resource.
