Federalism can unlock Soccsksargen’s natural wealth

FILE: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs Jonathan Malaya, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary for Operations and Legislative Affairs Atty. Ana Marie Rafael-Banaag, and Atty. Randolph Parcasio of the Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution talk on empowering regions and local governance in the country through Federalism in a press briefing at the New Executive Building (NEB) in Malacañang on October 12, 2018. (Photo screengrabbed from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/Facebook)

MANILA — Federalism can be the key to unlocking Soccsksargen’s untapped abundance of natural and mineral resources, a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official said.

“The people of Soccsksargen are literally sitting on gold, copper, and iron, but are still living in poverty because of unequitable distribution of wealth under the present system of government,” DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya said in a news release Monday.

Soccsksargen is home to the country’s metallic mineral reserves such as gold, copper, and iron, specifically in the provinces of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato.

“Imagine if the taxes go to the regional government instead of Metro Manila. If we adopt the Consultative Committee’s (ConCom’s) model of federalism, the opportunities for socio-economic development are endless,” Malaya said.

He added that a federal setup could boost the potential of Region 12 in revenue collection as it is home to Mt. Apo, Mindanao’s major geothermal source.

Aside from power, the region has fertile soil due to the many rivers and lakes irrigating the forests and agricultural lands.

Under ConCom’s proposed Bayanihan Federal Constitution, the federated regions will be entitled to a 50% share of all net revenues from the exploration, development, and utilization of all the natural resources within the territory.

Last year, Soccsksargen’s economy grew by 8.2%, faster than the 4.9% growth rate the region posted in 2016.

This was due to the recovery of its agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing sector.

Meanwhile, about 31 out of every 100 families in the region are poor with poverty incidence levels at 30.5 in 2015.

“With more power spread to the regional government, the economy of Soccsksargen will fly, thus generating more jobs and easing the poverty situation in the region,” Malaya said.

The DILG will be holding its federalism roadshow in Polomolok on October 29-30, 2018 and invites the people of Region 12 to attend its Pederalismoserye town hall meeting with basic sectors and the convention/rally for federalism on the second day.