BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Tuesday said he is optimistic that both Negros provinces will be reunited under the federal government as one island state.
The governor shared his hope as 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who chairs the third technical working group (TWG) formed by the House committee on constitutional amendments, confirmed on Sunday that he has proposed to include in the draft a Charter revision of Negros Island as one federal state.
Marañon, who has expressed support to federalism, said Negrenses should move forward after the dissolution of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
On August 7, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 38 abolishing the NIR.
Marañon said under a federal government, 14 states are being proposed, including six in Luzon, and four each in Visayas and Mindanao, among which Negros Island is identified to become one federal state.
“Let’s work together to make Negros as one state,” the governor urged Negrenses.
Benitez said the House of Representatives is targeting to complete the draft of the Constitutional amendments not later than December.
The third technical working group will draft the Preamble, National Territory (Article I), Declaration of Principles and State Policies (Article II), General Provisions (Article XVI), and Transitory Provisions (Article XVIII).
The first TWG led by Davao Oriental First District Representative Corazon Nuñez-Malanyaon will take charge of the provisions on the Executive and Legislative (Articles VI and VII), the new Article on Federal and Regional Powers, Numbers of States, and the Local Government and Taxation/Allocation of Resources (Article X).
The second TWG, chaired by Capiz Second District Representative Fredenil Castro, will craft the provisions on the Bill of Rights (Article III), Citizenship (Article IV), Suffrage (Article V), Judiciary (Article VIII), and the Amendments or Revisions (Article XVII).
The fourth TWG, headed by Leyte Third District Representative Vicente Veloso, will be in-charge if the National Economy and Patrimony (Article XII), Social Justice, Labor and Others (Article XIII), Education, Science and Others (Article XIV), new Article on the Bill of Duties, Accountability of Public Officials (Article XI), and Family (Article XV). (PNA)
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