17K councilors unite for PRRD’s federalism push

FILE: MOU ON FEDERALISM ADVOCACY. Special Assistant to Senator Francis Escudero (from left) Jonathan E. Malaya; Eduardo M. Año, OIC-Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Philippine Councilors League National President Luis “Chavit” Singson; and PCL National Chairman Danny Dayanghirang show the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Federalism Advocacy Partnership between Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and DILG held at DILG-Napolcom Center Building, EDSA cor. Quezon Ave. Quezon City on Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2018). (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

MANILA — Almost 17,000 city and municipal councilors nationwide now support the administration’s advocacy for a federal shift.

On Sept. 10, city and municipal councilors from all over the Philippines pledged to help the information campaign of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the DILG and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL).

“With this agreement, our Federalism thrust will have a wider and deeper scope in terms of information dissemination,” DILG Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Año said public awareness is key to convincing people to vote for federalism in the 2019 plebiscite.

“Imagine, we now have 17,000 advocates all over the country,” he said.

The PCL, with a membership of 16,764 councilors nationwide, has agreed to sponsor local laws and ordinances that would promote federalism in communities.

The MOU signing was attended by PCL national chairman Danny Dayanghirang, PCL national president Luis “Chavit” Singson, and other PCL officers.

“Let it be known to the DILG that the 17,000 councilors nationwide are behind the administration’s campaign for federalism. We are here to flatten out the information down to the community level. So to OIC Año, we are here to commit ourselves behind the DILG’s leadership in this program,” Dayanghirang said.

PCL will conduct information campaign activities to ensure the success of the federalism advocacy.

The DILG, on the other hand, will capacitate and certify the trained speakers of federalism-related activities of the league.

“The PCL has been the first organization and league to be coordinating with the DILG in our programs,” DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Next week, the DILG will be tapping the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) to help in the advocacy.

The DILG has been tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to spearhead the public awareness campaign for federalism and has been visiting the regions to showcase the draft federal Constitution crafted by the Consultative Committee.