Gov’t to new barangay captains: Help campaign for federalism

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on new barangay captains to help the national government in its campaign for federalism as President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday led the oath-taking of 3,003 new barangay captains from Central Visayas in Lapu-Lapu City.
In a statement released last Friday, DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año during the oath-taking “urged the new local officials to help spread the merits of federalism in their respective barangays.”
The DILG chief also told the new village leaders to help the government in its campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, and violent extremism in their areas.
“We have one vision: To make our barangays a better and safer place and ultimately make our country a better Philippines,” Mr. Año said.
DILG is the lead government agency on the campaign for federalism. On Friday, it held a conference to discuss implementation of the transition to a decentralized government should the new constitution gets approved.
“As the department in charge of the advocacy for federalism, the DILG would like to help spread the knowledge on implementing the transition stage,” DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya said.
The agency will also hold a series of “roadshow” starting June 17 to bring the consultations on the initial draft of the new constitution by the Consultative Committee (ConCom) to the regions and gather inputs from stakeholders. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz