Negros Bishops Appeals To President Duterte Not To Rush PH Shift To Federalism

Negros bishops have appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte and the legislators not to rush Philippine’s shift to federalism.

Four dioceses from Negros Island expressed their disappointment towards the lack of concern of the Filipino people and even Catholic Church regarding the move of revising the 1987 Constitution.

The bishops were urging the Philippine government not to rush the country’s shift to federalism and to also consider the future generations.

“We urge the President and legislators not to rush the shift to federalism because what is at stake here is not only the present generation of Filipinos, but future generations as well,” the bishops of the Dioceses of San Carlos, Dumaguete, Bacolod, and Kabankalan said quoted by Inquirer.

The four dioceses of Negros are San Carlos bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Dumaguete bishop Julito Cortes, Bacolod bishop Patricio Buzon, and Kabankalan bishop-elect Louie Galbines.

The Negros Bishops have also questioned if the federalism would cause horribly bloated democracy with the formation of new government agencies, which might lead to possible waste of public funds.