Calabarzon ready for federal shift: DILG

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 — Calabarzon is fully equipped to handle its own shift to a federal form of government, a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official said on Tuesday.

“Given the region’s expanding and highly competitive economic environment, the local government units (LGUs) of Calabarzon can walk gracefully through the transition into federalism,” DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya said in a news release.

Calabarzon is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

Driven by strong manufacturing and construction, the economy of Calabarzon accelerated to 6.7 percent in 2017 from the 4.8 percent growth in 2016, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show.

Four out of five Calabarzon provinces also topped the competitiveness index ranked by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) this year.

Advancements in infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, information technology, trade, among others will pave the way for a smooth transition and will only serve to strengthen Calabarzon’s investment potentials, Malaya said.

He said the DILG also believes that Calabarzon’s development will take flight given its strong manufacturing and agricultural sectors, its close proximity to Metro Manila and its strategic location serving as Luzon’s gateway to the south.

“Calabarzon will have a quicker federal transition compared to the other regions,” Malaya said.

As one of the stronger regions in the country, Calabarzon is seen as one of the regions assisting “weaker” regions through the federal shift.

“In essence, the regions are like siblings. The mature and strong regions will be helping the federal government assist the smaller and weaker regions through the transition until such time that they can stand up on their own. That’s the spirit of Bayanihan Federalism,” Malaya said.

The DILG will be visiting Calamba, Laguna to explain federalism to the people of Calabarzon, and encourage locals to tune in to local media stations on Wednesday.

The DILG also invites people to its Pederalismoserye town hall meeting and convention/rally for federalism on Thursday.