Iloilo eyed as capital of proposed WV state
ZAYCO PREFERS MERGER OF NEGROS PROVINCES
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 that seeks the establishment of a federal system of government is batting for the creation of 11 states with Negros Occidental falling under the State of Western Visayas, Senator Aquilino Pimentel said yesterday.

The state of Western Visayas will be made up of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental, and until provided otherwise by the state legislature, Iloilo City will be the capital of the state, Joint Resolution 10 states.

Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday reiterated that he favors the creation of a Negros State instead, composed of the Occidental and Oriental provinces.

It would be to our advantage to have a Negros State because both provinces are on one island and are already interconnected by many road networks, he said.

If we are connected to Western Visayas we will be on a separate island from all the other provinces in Panay that will comprise the state, he said.

Joint Resolution No. 10 is very specific and detailed in its provisions, it pushes for a federal form of government but nothing in it provides for extension of the president’s term of a shift toward a parliamentary form of government, Pimentel he told the DAILY STAR.

If the House comes up with a different version that allows for the extension of terms, we will shoot it down in the Senate, he said.

He said Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, will schedule Resolution 10 for hearing in the Senate.

Gordon told the DAILY STAR that while he is for federalism he will oppose any move for any charter change to be implemented before 2010.

Any change in the Constitution should be after 2010 and a shift to federalism should not be abrupt.

“I am for a slow burn shift to federalism to allow the nation to adjust to the change gradually,” Gordon said.

Pimentel said that under the current unitary system of government the country’s development programs are centrally determined, planned, funded and implemented by the national government in Manila.

The highly centralized system of government has brought about spotty development of the nation where preferential treatment has been given to localities whose officials are friendly with or have easy access to an incumbent administration, he said.

Creating eleven states of the republic would establish 11 centers of finance and development, Pimentel said.

Aside from the 11 states Resolution 10 moves for the creation of the Federal Administrate Region of Metro Manila until otherwise provided by congress.

Among the 11 states aside from Western Visayas will be the following:

*State of Northern Luzon composed of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, with Tuguegarao City as the capital.

*State of Central Luzon composed of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, and the Scarborough shoals with Tarlac City as the capital.

*State of Southern Tagalog composed of Rizal, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite with Tagaytay City as the capital.

*State of Minparon composed of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Palawan, Romblon and Marinduque and the island, islets, shoal and reefs that are collectively called the Kalayaan Islands or the Spratlys, with Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental as the capital.

*State of Bicol composed of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon, with Legaspi City as the capital.

*State of Eastern Visayas composed of Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Eastern Samar with Catbalogan City as the capital.

*State of Central Visayas composed of Masbate, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor with Toledo City as the capital.

*State of Northern Mindanao composed of Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay with Cagayan de Oro City as the capital.

*State of Southern Mindanao composed of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat with Davao City as the capital.

*State of BangsaMoro composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, (Shariff Kabunsuan), Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi with Marawi City as the capital.*CPG

damay na natina ng LUPANG HINIRANG.. kung basahun kag intyendihun mo ang lyrics daw indi gid amu ah...

wala sa central visayas ang negros occidental haw?hehehe!!

bahala da sila ah....ang masunod na ang mga state mangin independente na lang....hala...

Preparar ang Visayas kay basi ang MILF lab-ut na da....

I agree with Zayco... very much!...

Economically and Geographically... it would be the best move than putting Iloilo as Capital...

And Besides, There's this Competition mentality between Iloilo and Negros. So I dont think Negros will concede.

himu naman sila autonomous region of ilonggos *mad *mad *mad *mad