Convinced that the best way to attend to the needs of the people and uplift their living conditions is by bringing services directly to them, presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao will back Charter change if elected in next year’s elections.
“To get rid of corruption in the government, we will push for federalism and strengthen our local autonomy,” he said during a sideline interview during a sortie in Payatas, Quezon City on Thursday.
The boxing legend also took potshots at “pretentious, genius politicians” who were bringing nothing but misery to the people.
“I believe in leaders who do not bring down our country. People are suffering because of our huge debts and spending instead of our earnings,” he said.
The senator pointed out there is a need to amend the Constitution and make it attuned with the times and the needs of the country as well as the citizenry.
Under a federal government, power is divided between the central government and local state governments, Pacquiao noted. Each state shall be empowered to handle their own laws, finances, development plans, health, education, and infrastructure, among others.
Currently, the Philippines is under a unitary form of government with power and authority vested in the central government.
A federal setup creates opportunities for local governments to manage their own economy and chart their own destinies, the senator said. Giving these local government units power over their own resources will help boost regional development, he added
Other advantages of the federal system are that it ensures that the government remains close to the people and encourages development of the nation through decentralized and regional means.
As a result, local government units are allowed to determine their future by addressing social, economic, and political problems using ways that are most applicable to them.
Once elected, Pacquiao said he will immediately consult experts and explore ways on how to efficiently transition to federalism.
He added that because of the prevailing system, local government officials are being held hostage and beholden to the national government, especially from the Department of Budget that has the power whether to download the funding to them or not.
Meanwhile, the senator said only God can stop him from running for president.
“I will follow if God tells me to stop, but at this time, I will not backtrack because this is for our people and our country,” he said.
