Federalism will help fix the traffic woes of Metro Manila.
According to the Institute of Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER) Executive Director Ramon Casiple, a federal setup would give the regional governor enough power to help solve the problem of heavy traffic in the National Capital Region.
“Ang traffic problem ng NCR, mapagtutuunan na 'yan ng governor ng NCR. Kung binaba mo ang government sa tao, government services will be devolved,” says Casiple during the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG’s) roadshow for federalism in the National Capital Region (NCR) this week.
Apart from that, when the regions are all growing, more opportunities await for people in search for jobs at the local and regional levels, according to the Consultative Committee (Concom).
"Many of those who are in Metro Manila can go home to their families in the regions. So federalism is the answer to the traffic congestion in Manila,” says Concom member Professor Eddie Alih.
This would lessen the incidence of broken families in the country, he adds.
Once Metro Manila is able to mend its issues in congestion and heal from the problems caused by it, the region can then give more focus on its tourism potential.
“Ang tourism ay parang oil. Ang Metro Manila kung maayos na ang sarili nila, at naayos na ang traffic, puwede na nila maiangat ang tourism potential niyan,” says Casiple.
Apart from tourism, the government of Metro Manila will have to think of ways to become globally competitive in business friendliness and internet connectivity.
Since the region has little natural resources to harness its wealth from, the other sources of growth in Metro Manila are commerce, trade, finance, and industry.
The DILG is currently conducting its regional roadshow for federalism in Parañaque City to explain the salient features of Concom’s proposed Bayanihan Federal Constitution to the Manileños.