PH gov’n to spend up to P90 million for federalism info dissemination

The spokesperson confirmed that an intergovernmental task force was created and that the Palace official has met them and came up with a strategy. (PCOO file photo)

The administration plans to spend up to P90 million for an information dissemination campaign on federalism.

In a press briefing at the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan ng Ipil Municipal Hall in Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday, July 26, 2018, Malacañang through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. revealed the mentioned initial budget which will hold the savings of the Consultative Committee (Con-Com) and the participation of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

“Well, alam niyo po ang [amount na] na-identify pa lang (the only amount identified)… and to be candid about it, is an initial P40 million pero (but) 30 million lang ang pu-pwede gamitin (will be the only amount used) because 10 million will go to PCOO and apparently the Consultative Commission has savings of about 50 million but they are not sure how they can actually spend it because natapos ang buhay o matatapos na ang buhay ng (its lifespan of the) Consultative Commission [is set to end] this August so they are finding a way to be able to use the remaining funds of the committee for dissemination,” Roque explained.

“So the initial amount for the dissemination is 90 million but 10 million will go to PCOO for production of materials,” he then added.

The spokesperson confirmed that an intergovernmental task force was created and that the Palace official has met them and came up with a strategy. He further said that they plan to bring the dissemination level to the barangay level. They will also focus on training their trainers and will utilize mass media for the dissemination campaign.

Roque said that this move is in line with the survey results revealing that an “overwhelming majority” of Filipinos are still not informed about federalism. This comes with the fact that the country is already preparing to shift its unitary form of government to a federal one.

He stressed the need for such campaign, “So we have accepted the challenge and we will embark on this massive dissemination drive,” he added.