By Paulo Loreto Lim

While speaking before the Launching of Federalism in Negros event last weekend at the Osbron Hall of Ikthus Equipping Center, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia expressed his support for moving the country towards a federal form of government, staking his argument on supporting President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Let’s ride on the momentum and let us always believe that because of the leadership of President Duterte,” he declared. “His strong leadership will ensure that this dream will come true.”
Leonardia recounted discussing federalism with then-candidate Duterte during a visit to Bacolod City.
He touted, under federalism, local government units will have “a bigger share of resources.”
“We will have a bigger share of the pie,” said Leonardia. “If we have a bigger budget, we can do so many things.”
Also in attendance were Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Council-Negros Island Region (MRRD-NECC-NIR) Chair Joe Jay Doctora; Negros Occidental Public Information Officer Karen Dinsay; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Legislative Liaison and Special Concerns, Atty. Emily Padilla; and Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran./WDJ