Go urges officials to support federalism

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go yesterday urged the local officials of Negros Occidental to support a shift from parliamentarism to federalism so that various regions would be given greater attention under the new system of government, according to a statement.The local officials warmly received Go during the Anti-Illegal Drugs Summit 2018 held in the province on Saturday.In a message, he also cited data attesting to positive results of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, such as a 30% drop in crime rate, increase in number of rehabilitation and recovery centres for drug dependents and renewed hope for a better life for Filipinos.The proposed federal system, however, has apparently hit a snag, with Senate President Vicente Sotto hinting on Friday that senators might not be able to speed up discussion on Charter change (Cha-cha) — the means for effecting the shift in the government system — because of a “tight” legislative calendar.Sotto said he would convene an all-senator caucus to decide on schedules of debates for Cha-cha.On Thursday, the Consultative Committee, led by retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno, transmitted to the Senate president a copy of the draft Charter shifting to a federal system of government.