While revealing plans by the Association of Chief Executives-Negros (ACE-Negros) to hold a meeting to discuss federalism, Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, who serves as president of the association, yesterday affirmed his endorsement of a shift to federalism, while denouncing “Imperial Manila.”

“I have been against Imperial Manila,” he stated. “All the opportunities have been there; it is time for countryside development.”

The mayor explained, under federalism, power would be decentralized.

“Federalism [is] a very simple thing,” he explained. “Local government units will have to utilize their own money and power.”

However, ACE-Negros has yet to devise a formal proposal expressing their position on federalism.

Meanwhile, Palanca touted his credentials, noting his standing as a board member of the Save Our Language through Federalism (Solfed) organization.

Earlier, Solfed and Task Force Kasanag (TFK) signed an agreement to work together in support of federalism.

Last month, following a federalism forum in Isabela, Negros Occidental, TFK national commander John Chiong offered similar rhetoric to Palanca, declaring, “We support federalism because each state will have independence unlike the present setup of government, where everything is centralized in the national government and in Metro Manila.”

The TFK leader also believes federalism is the only way to minimize corruption./PLL, WDJ