By Freddie Velez CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — “As long as our country is in the unitary form of government, we are not going to progress, so we should support the federal form of government that is being pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte.” Gov. Wilhemino M. Sy-Alvarado (Provincial Government of Bulacan via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In these words, Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado spelled out his strong support for federalism as the key for strengthening local governments and allowing them to deliver their respective areas to progress. Alvarado cited the problem of flooding in Bulacan and the solution promised by the creation of mini dams in Nueva Ecija and Candaba swamp to prevent backflooding through the coastal areas. “Under the federal form of government hindi na kailangan pang ipaalam sa itaas ang mahalagang proyekto tulad ng pagpapagawa ng mini dams ng taga Nueva Ecija at Pampanga sa Candaba dahil kaya na nilang magdesisyon para sa kapakanan ng lalawigan at mamamayan (there would be no need to have projects like mini dams for Nueva Ecija and Candaba, Pampanga approved by the national government because these may be decided by the provincial government for its people),” he said. He said, while currently being under the presidential unitary form of government, the decision will be coming from the national government and provinces and localities will only be receivers of big-ticket projects. “We can only propose because we are under a presidential unitary system. Decisions will be coming from the national government and will pass through Congress,” he explained. Under a federal set-up, Alvarado believes proposals from the local government can be acted on by the local government in order to have them implemented. “We are the ones who do the job so it’s easier to solve the problems below,” he said.