Batangas governor pitches for federalism

BATANGAS CITY -- Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas has expressed full support to the shift in federalism under a Constitutional change saying it would provide genuine and greater local autonomy to the province.

In a report on Monday, Batangas Public Information Office chief Jenelyn A. Aguilera told Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the governor has been pushing for federalism at the onset of the New Year during his various meetings and forums with the provincial stakeholders from the mayors, barangay leaders and civil society organizations here.

Mandanas said federalism would strengthen local autonomy and speed up development programs among the local government units (LGUs) to spur inclusive economic growth, entry of more investments and industries as well as in relocating transportation hubs to the provinces to help decongest Metro Manila.    

He said that federalism can help decentralize the delivery of basic services and facilities to the LGUs especially the barangays and the grassroots because any local chief executive like governors, mayors and barangay leaders could focus on attaining inclusive growth and development that would redound to their constituents.

The governor was quoted as saying that “ang dahilan ng pagpapaganda at pagsasaayos ng buong lalawigan ay para sa mga ipinagmamalaking mamamayan nito, ang mga Batangueño, na siyang pangunahing likas yaman ng Batangas at may malaking potensiyal na maging mga susunod na mamumuno sa mga darating na henerasyon, taglay ang dignidad at integridad (The reason Batangas province has embarked on sprucing up the province and to make it attractive is for its foremost human resources, the Batangueño constituents, who have great potentials as the next leaders in the coming generation, imbued with dignity and integrity.)”

Aguilera said that Mandanas reiterated his call during the joint meetings of the Batangas Provincial Councils last week which reviewed the completed projects in 2017 and crafted the plans and activities for this year.

The meetings comprised the Batangas Province Investment Council; Information and Communication Technology Council; Batangas Tourism Council; Metro Batangas Business Club Inc., and the Batangas Forum for Good Governance, Inc. at the Provincial Governor’s Office at the Capitol here.

Joining Mandanas in the council meetings were Cesar Montano, chief operating officer of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Tourism Promotions Board who graced the occasion for the province’s tourism council plans, programs and projects.

Other officials who participated in the meetings were Warlito P. Guerra of the Batangas Province Investment Council; Juan Lozano of Batangas Tourism Council; Francisco Lirio of Batangas Forum for Good Governance Inc.; Rene Lopez and Concepcion Quimzon of the Provincial Information and Communication Technology Council; Provincial Planning Development Coordinator Benjamin I. Bausas; Provincial Administrator Librado G. Dimaunahan; and other various council members.

According to Aguilera, each provincial and sectoral council presented their plans and projects that got the nod of the members in a bid to achieve the provincial thrust for a “RICH Batangas.”

Topping the list of the project proposals are the establishment of the electronic Hub or e-Hub in the various barangays and the farming mechanization and introducing modern agricultural technology in farm production, agricultural techniques and coffee production attuned to the times through the support of the Batangas State University College of Engineering.

The councils also expressed support to the infrastructure boom; preservation and conservation of Batangas cultural heritage and the ecological protection and environmental conservation of the province’s three major bays and their natural marine resources in Batangas Bay, Balayan Bay and Tayabas Bay. (PNA)