By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY – The move to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law has awakened the call for federalism in Mindanao, Senator Teofisto Guingona III told the press during his recent visit here.
Guingona said once the said law is passed, 75 percent of the revenues would go to the Bangsamoro entity and only 25 percent would go to the national government.
He, however, said: “If such sharing of wealth could be made possible for the Bangsamoro entity, why can’t it become possible also for the other parts of Mindanao.”
The senator also stressed that the plan for federalism in Mindanao could be a good idea, but admitted that “this is a long process.”
“What we want is fair treatment. The wealth of Mindanao is for Mindanao,” said Guingona who serves as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.
Meanwhile, the Senator has vowed to help the city in its health programs and projects.
Guingona and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III are the only two senators who come from Mindanao.