The National Alliance of Movements for Federalism (NAMFed) Inc. for the Visayas was formally launched last Saturday in Cebu City.
The activity was spearheaded by the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) led by Tuburan, Cebu, Mayor Democrito Diamante, LMP national vice president for the Visayas.
Diamante said some groups have introduced federalism, but their efforts were not sustained and continued. This, he added, prompted him to organize a movement to consolidate all efforts from various aggrupations to support the call for a change by the Duterte administration. He said federalism is “the right path toward change.”
He added he encouraged all LMP chapter presidents of 16 provinces in the Visayas to join regardless of political affiliations and to ensure continuity.
“There is no partisan politics here. We unite and work together for real change,” said Diamante, the president of the Visayas Alliance of Federal Movements Inc.
Also present were the leaders of the Cebu Movement for Federalism, led by Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho, Sugbuhanon Federalismo Inc. and Abanti
Boholano Inc.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman and NAMFed President Danilo D. Lim said, “This is an exciting time to be a Filipino because of a President who is bent on effecting change and committed to actively raising the quality of life for all Filipinos.”
“If federalism is the way to achieve this, our task is to make it possible. Our mission is to provide practical, step-by-step assistance until this becomes a reality for our country and fellow Filipinos,” Lim added.
Lim noted that while many said it could not be done because the hype for federalism initiated by various groups dissipated, NAMFed is here breaking into a run.