A Forum on Federalism for the Philippines

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 3810, ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA. A Forum on FEDERALISM FOR THE PHILIPPINES. MANILA POLO CLUB, FEBRUARY 2, 2017.

FEDERALISM: A political concept and governmental structure where power is constitutionally shared between the national or federal government and the states and other local authorities. FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS USUALLY EVOLVE OUT OF CONFEDERATIONS OF DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT STATES OR REGIONS. Examples: USA, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia

ADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM

1.) PRECLUDES TYRANNICAL RULE, 2.) EASIER TO PASS TAILORED LAWS THAT SUIT ETHNOLINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITIES AND REGIONAL ASPIRATIONS; 3.) PROMOTES SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPECIALIZATION AND MORE EQUITABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 4.) BRINGS GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE; 5.) ENCOURAGES GREATER CIVIC PARTICIPATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A WIDER LEADERSHIP BASE.

DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM

1.) POSSIBILITIES OF CROSS BORDER CONFLICTS, AS STATES COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER, 2.) REGIONALISM VERSUS A GREATER SENSE OF NATIONHOOD; 3.) UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT AMONG STATES; 4.) ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ARISING FROM ANOTHER LAYER OF GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, (WHICH MAY ALSO IMPEDE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS); 5.) POSSIBILITIES OF SECESSION BY DISAFFECTED STATES OR REGIONS

PRESENT SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, SOME INDICATORS

1.) POVERTY: ONE OUT OF FOUR FILIPINOS STILL LIVES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE; 2.) ABOUT HALF OF FILIPINOS RATE THEMSELVES POOR, DESPITE THE 7% INCREASE IN GDP GROWTH; 3.) THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MUSLIM MINDANAO REMAINS AS THE POOREST REGION, AGGRAVATED BY THE CONTINUING CONFLICT; 4.) MORE THAN HALF OF THE GROWTH IN THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY BENEFITS ONLY FORTY OF THE RICHEST FAMILIES WHICH INCIDENTALLY CONTROL MORE THAN 90% OF THE PHILIPPINE BANKING SYSTEM; 5.) CORRUPTION AND; 6.) ILLEGAL DRUGS AND CRIMINALITY, COMPOUNDED BY INVOLVEMENT OF SOME POLICE OFFICERS, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

THE RATIFICATION OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION OF 1987, AND THE PASSAGE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT AND DEVOLVED CERTAIN POWERS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, RESULTING IN SUSTAINED PROGRESS IN A NUMBER OF CITIES AND PROVINCES. THE ACKNOWLEDGED FATHER OF LOCAL AUTONOMY IN THE PHILIPPINES, FORMER MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND SENATE PRESIDENT, AQUILINO "NENE" PIMENTEL, JR. !!!

THE OTHER GENTLEMAN WHO MADE THIS LGC POSSIBLE WAS FORMER SPEAKER RAMON "MONCHING" MITRA OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITHOUT WHOSE SUPPORT THE LAW WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENACTED. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 WAS INDEED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGACIES OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT CORY C. AQUINO BUT SOME QUESTIONS BEG TO BE ASKED: 1) WHY THE RELATIVELY SLOW AND INEQUITABLE GROWTH OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, AND WHY HAVE SOME REGIONS LAGGED BEHIND? 2.) WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO PROMOTE FASTER AND EQUITABLE NATIONAL PROGRESS, AND MINIMIZE CORRUPTION?

CRITICAL ISSUES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED

1.) WIDESPREAD POVERTY AND INEQUITABLE NATIONAL PROGRESS 2.) GRAFT AND CORRUPTION AGGRAVATED BY A CORRUPT ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND AS IS BEING EXPOSED NOW, BY NARCO-POLITICS; 3.) WEAKNESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE; 4.) EXCESSIVE RESOURCES STILL BEING WITHHELD BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT; NEED TO REVIEW INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT; 5.) POLITICAL DYNASTY

THE PROPOSAL TO REVISE THE CONSTITUTION TO ADOPT A FEDERAL SYSTEM IS TIMELY!!! IT HAS BEEN THIRTY YEARS SINCE THE PRESENT PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION WAS RATIFIED; IT HAS BEEN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS SINCE RA 7160 WAS PASSED. LET US TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THE GAINS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, ATTAIN FULL LOCAL AUTONOMY, AND HASTEN EQUITABLE NATIONAL PROGRESS!!!

SOME SALIENT PROPOSALS BEING ADVANCED FOR THE SHIFT TO FEDERALISM

ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE ARMED FORCES, ONE CENTRAL BANK, ONE MONETARY SYSTEM, ONE FOREIGN POLICY, ONE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM: PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TOGETHER

BICAMERAL CONGRESS: 81 SENATORS TO BE ELECTED BY STATE, AND, 684 REPRESENTATIVES TO BE ELECTED BY DISTRICT

STATE GOVERNORS, VICE GOVERNORS AND UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE TO BE ELECTED PER STATE; PROVINCIAL, CITY, TOWN AND BARANGAY LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES TO BE RETAINED

SEATS OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO BE DISPERSED: FEDERAL EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS TO BE BASED IN METRO-MANILA, FEDERAL LEGISLATURE TO BE BASED IN CENTRAL VISAYAS, SUPREME COURT TO BE BASED IN NORTHERN MINDANAO

ELEVEN FEDERAL STATES TO BE CREATED: FOUR IN LUZON: Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Bicol; FOUR IN VISAYAS: Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and MINPAROM (Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, and Marinduque), THREE IN MINDANAO: Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, BangsaMoro, PLUS THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF METRO-MANILA

STRENGTHENING OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM: 1.) IMPOSING DEADLINES FOR DECIDING CASES AT THE SUPREME COURT AND LOWER COURTS, INCLUDING SHARIAH AND TRIBAL COURTS, 2.) CREATION OF A CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SPECIFICALLY TO RULE ON CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, ONE BRANCH EACH IN LUZON, VISAYAS AND MINDANAO

ALLOCATION OF ALL REVENUES, NOT JUST THOSE COLLECTED BY THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, AS FOLLOWS: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: 20% STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: 80%

SHARING OF STATE AND LGUs: STATES.... 30% PROVINCES, CITIES, TOWNS AND BARANGAYS... 70% EQUALIZATION FUND FOR POORER LGUs

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1.) ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT AS A TEAM WILL PROMOTE STRONGER TEAMWORK,

2.) ELECTION OF SENATORS BY STATE WILL ENSURE EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION ACROSS THE NATION. ONE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE 81 SENATORS AMD 684 REPRESENTATIVES.

3.) CLEARLY DELINEATE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO PREVENT BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE THAT MIGHT IMPEDE RATHER THAN SPEED UP NATIONAL/LOCAL DEVELOPMENT.

4.) HOW ABOUT HEALTH SERVICES, AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS? HOW CAN WE ENSURE NATIONAL COORDINATION AND OPTIMAL USE OF RESOURCES?

5.) WHY NOT MAKE METRO-MANILA A FEDERAL STATE WITH AND ELECTIVE GOVERNOR, VICE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO PROMOTE BETTER COORDINATION AMONG THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES? AT PRESENT PAROCHIAL INTERESTS PREVENT THEM FROM EVEN AGREEING ON BASIC TRAFFIC RULES LIKE COLOR CODING, MUCH LESS ON OTHER SERVICES LIKE WASTE DISPOSAL.

6.) THE PROPOSED SHARING OF ALL REVENUES WITH 80% FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND 20% FOR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST BE REVIEWED. THIS MAY RESULT IN A VERY WEAK CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. PERHAPS A 60:40 or 70:30 PROPORTION IN FAVOR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE MORE PRACTICAL, CONSIDERING THAT LGUS HAVE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUES.

7.) THE EQUALIZATION FUND FOR LGUS SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: a.) POVERTY INDEX, I.E. MORE FOR THE POOR LGUS AND LESS TO THOSE WITH OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME LIKE HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES, AND; b.) GOOD GOVERNANCE INDEX, MEANING INCENTIVES FOR GOOD PERFORMERS. c.) ANTI-DYNASTY CONSIDERATION: REDUCE ALLOCATION FOR LGUS DOMINATED BY DYNASTIES, (TO BE DEFINED BY LAW).

8.) URGENT REFORM MEASURES FOR CONSIDERATION AS WE AMEND THE CONSTITUTION: a.) STRICT MEASURES MUST BE INSTITUTIONALIZED TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS CONSIDERING THE ENORMOUS RESOURCES THAT WILL BE PLACED UNDER THEIR DISPOSAL. b.) ELECTORAL REFORMS TO STOP VOTE BUYING, THE ROOT OF ALL CORRUPTION, MUST BE PUT IN PLACE! c.) MODIFY NATIONAL IN SCOPE AND CIVILIAN CHARACTER OF POLICE FORCE

9.) IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT AS WE SEEK TO EMPOWER STATES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES THROUGH FEDERALISM, THE FEDERAL OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT REMAINS SUFFICIENTLY STRONG, CAPABLE OF WIELDING NECESSARY POWERS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE REPUBLIC!

10.) A WEAK NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE VULNERABLE TO SECESSION BY STRONG STATES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INSTIGATION OF OUTSIDE FORCES. WE MUST VIGILANTLY GUARD AGAINST THIS POSSIBILITY!

LET US STRIVE TO BUILD A FEDERAL SYSTEM ESPECIALLY SUITED TO THE CULTURES, TRADITION AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE! MARAMING SALAMAT PO!!! MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!!!