PH mayors study US federal form of gov’t

The young mayor said he had been reading books on federalism but the experience added to his knowledge about this form of government and how could it be adopted in the Philippines. (Pixabay photo)

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan— At least 16 mayors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have completed an eight-day on-site schooling on federalism in Washington DC, United States of America from Nov. 6 to 13 and received first-hand account on how it works.

City Mayor Lawyer Christian D. Natividad on Wednesday said that the eight-day crash course was part of the program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in a bid to immerse local executives in the federal systems of different countries like US, Germany and France.

He said they studied different modules on federalism.

“We were immersed into their system so that we can personally experience how bureaucracy works in the US. We went to hospitals, social welfare centers, the state security force of the homeland security department,” Natividad said.

The young mayor said he had been reading books on federalism but the experience added to his knowledge about this form of government and how could it be adopted in the Philippines.

“We were sent there to study and learn the system because we are the local executives practicing local autonomy,” he explained.

He said that aside from US, they would also study the federal system in Germany and France.

“Our government is dedicated in making our country better and they are now sending local executives so that they can serve as trained mentors on the federal form of government,” Natividad said.

The mayor also disclosed that they have talked to Filipino-Americans to learn how they have adopted to federalism in the US.

Natividad also said that the trip had given him the opportunity to tell Filipinos and the staff of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC the significance of January 23, 1899 or the anniversary of the First Philippine Republic.

“It’s sad to say but it seems that not too many Filipinos remember the importance of the birthday of being free Filipino citizens of the Republic. Hopefully, this will be a fresh start as the Philippine Embassy in Washington promised that they will commemorate the upcoming celebration of the First Philippine Republic this January 23,” he said.