TARLAC - In preparation for the upcoming Synchronized Barangay Assembly Day (SBAD) on March 25, DILG Regional Office III organized the orientation of all DILG field officers and personnel on federalism on March 21, in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

The endeavor was made to equip all DILG personnel about the rudiments of a federal form of government which will be relayed by all City/Municipal DILG Officers during the conduct of their respective showcase barangay assembly, consistent with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte instructing DILG to lead the widest information campaign on federalism.

A Federal form of government is characterized by the sharing of powers between by the Federal (National) and Regional or State governments, which are independent of other states in legislative and economic terms.

Legislative Liaison and Special Concerns Undersecretary Emily Padilla said the move to shift from a unitary to a federal form of government is the government's "last card" to attain peace in Mindanao in lieu of the discontinued Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and peace talks.

Program Manager Enrico Sampang emphasized that the key for federalism's success is proper information dissemination by the DILG to help the proposed system fit the idiosyncrasies of the Filipino people.

Mr. Ding Generoso provided a comparison between the unitary form and a federal form of government by highlighting the basic scheme, structure and the manner by which the constitution may be amended, which is through either a constituent assembly or a constitutional convention.

The event also featured the latest updates from Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LG-MED) Chief Lerrie Hernandez, Local Government Capability Development Division (LG-CDD) Chief Jeffrey Manalastas, and Finance and Administrative Division (FAD) Chief Anita Adriano.