PIMENTEL PRESENTS RP FEDERALISM PLAN
AT INTERNATIONAL CONFAB IN NEW DELHI

NEW DELHI, INDIA -- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) will discuss moves to adopt a federal system of government in the Philippines during his participation in the 4th International Conference on Federalism in New Delhi, India from November 5 to 7.

The conference, which is being hosted by the Indian government in partnership with the Ottawa-based Forum of Federations, has brought together various levels of practitioners of federalism, heads of state/government, heads of constituent units, heads of local government, ministers, legislators, administrators, civil society representatives, academicians and young professionals.

Pimentel was invited by conference organizers to expound on the question "Is Federalism an Option for Managing Conflicts?"

The conference, which adopted the theme "Unity in Diversity -- Learning from Each Other," seeks to provide a unique, interactive learning environment for the sharing of best practices in federalism that ultimately contribute to better governance.

At a side meeting, during the conference, Indian Prime Minister Singh met with Sen. Pimentel and expressed the hope that economic and diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines will expand.

Singh also told him that the recent state visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to India served to strengthen between the two countries.

Philippine Ambassador Teresita Vega-Berner informed Sen. Pimentel that many Indian businessmen have expressed interest in investing in mining in the country.

The participation of Pimentel in the New Delhi conference came on the heels of a directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to form a high-level government team that will draw up a roadmap for the shift from unitary system to a federal system by the year 2012.

The President's move was backed by Pimentel, even as he called for debates on the federalism proposal within and outside the halls of Congress.

Since the 1980s, Pimentel and his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), has advocated the federalization of the country to accelerate its economic growth, strengthen national unity and provide the ultimate political solution to the decades old Muslim separatist conflict in the South.

Federalism is characterized by the delegation of substantial government powers to the component states while the national or central government continues to exercise powers and functions that apply to the entire country.

The adoption of a federalism aims to put an end to the persistent grievances of far-flung regions in the Visayas and Mindanao that they are not given their due share of the national wealth which has been a constant cause if discontent and instability.