A QUEZON City councilor on Sunday urged officials of the city’s 142 barangays and the public to “understand the goals” of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan party that is pushing for federalism under the Duterte administration.
District 1 Councilor Peter Anthony “Onyx” Crisologo said “it is the responsibility of everyone to know the objectives of a shift of government to federalism” from the presidential and unitary form of government.
“The ruling party has been reaching out to the people at the grassroots level to hold a basic orientation to party principles and federalism,” he told the Manila Standard.
As the PDP-Laban president in District 1, Crisologo said he is encouraging people to take an active participation in intelligent discussions and consultations to better understand the benefits of a federal form of government, in a bid to accelerate economic development, address poverty, bring in peace and end the neglect in Mindanao under the unitary system of government.
Last June 30, a stalwart of District 6’s PDP-Laban invited Crisologo to speak in Barangay Sauyo before barangay Chairman Carlos Apo, barangay officials, senior citizens and representatives of some non-government organizations.
“I was there to explain the ideology of the PDP-Laban toward good governance, not only for Quezon City but for the entire country,” Crisologo said. “I told them to feel free to ask any question.”
Last June, on the invitation of District 2 PDP-Laban president Angelo Mendoza, Crisologo met with over 800 guests, mostly barangay officials, from barangays Holy Spirit, Batasan Hill, Commonwealth, Bagong Silangan and Payatas, during the basic orientation to party principles and federalism held at the Ever-Gotesco mall along Commonwealth Avenue.
“I explained the party’s goals as envisioned by President Rodrigo Duterte and how we can all contribute, not by criticizing the government, but by helping and participating through social events, such as this, and engaging in current events and how these affect us and how the government can help,” he said.