Manila out as capital under fed gov’t?

The Philippines may have a new capital in place of Manila should the proposed federal government push through, a member of the charter review committee formed by President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday said.

Speaking on TV, lawyer Roan Libarios, a member of the consultative committee on charter change, said there is no mandate under the proposed charter to choose Manila or Metro Manila as the country’s capital.

“We have not decided on a federal capital. We are open to proposals. Just like in other countries, the capital may be different, the administrative and commercial centers may be different,” Libarios said.

Libarios added Clark could serve as a good administrative center, considering the administration’s transfer of some government offices to the Pampanga area.

“That will ease the traffic in Metro Manila for sure. Or maybe we can have a capital in Cebu,” he said, stressing the goal of federalism is redistribution of powers to the regions.

Libarios said Metro Manila will have a regional government to coordinate all its towns and cities. This, he said, is seen to create greater efficiency in traffic management.