A FORMER MEMBER of the Charter change (Cha-cha) commission under the Arroyo administration said federalism would be good for the business sector with government processes devolved, but disagrees with the proposed federal-presidential system.

“Business don’t have to go to Manila to get permits… Only (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) openly declared that he wants to restructure government, which is very important. This is our opportunity especially for Davao,” said Lito Monico C. Lorenzana, former Cha-cha commission member and president of the Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI).

However, Mr. Lorenzana said in a chance interview last Friday, March 2, that the federal-presidential system — versus a federal-parliamentary system — voted on last week by the current Consultative Committee for Cha-cha would not really change the existing political setup.

”The problem is it’s the same as we have right now… we want a parliamentary federal system,” Mr. Lorenzana said, adding that the CDPI will campaign nationwide to push for the parliamentary system. — Maya M. Padillo

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