Federalism and Cordillera autonomy
>> Friday, September 1, 2023
BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
President
Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. must have drawn lessons when his old man was
toppled as President in February 1986 during the so-called EDSA Revolution,
reason why he is now pushing for a federal set-up of this Banana Republic.
How the thrust for federalism would affect moves to attain a Cordillera Autonomous Region remains to be seen. But that is going ahead of the story.
Marcos Jr., popularly known as Bongbong made the pitch when he led oath taking of new members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas at Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace on Thursday, August 24.
In his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of new members of his political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the President said the seemingly federal set-up would continue by bringing more power centers to other parts of the country.
"That is very simple. That derives a very simple idea that the stability of a political structure is much more reliable when we have many power centers. If the power centers only belong here in Manila, then pabagsakin mo 'yung Manila, bagsak ang buong Pilipinas (if Manila falls, the entire Philippines would fall)," Marcos was quoted as telling his partymates.
"But with the power centers being given to the local governments, to the local districts, and to those operating at the local level and thereby bringing those power centers to many places, it makes for a more stable political structure and makes a more stable political life," he added.
Marcos also said that the decision-making in the government should be made at the lowest level as possible, saying governors and congressmen should be allowed to decide since they know the situation on the ground.
"What we are talking about here is federalism, and what we have started to do, kahit (even) in all but name, ang ginagawa ay talagang ibinibigay ang discretion, ang power, ang function, hangga't maaari, sa pinaka mababa na level na maari nating gawin. So we are doing the first step of the federal government for the Philippines, in all but name," he said.
"There has to be a central tenet and central principle to what we are doing. And we are talking here about federalism. What we have started to do, in all but name, ang ating ginagawa ay talagang ibinibigay ang discretion, ang power, ang function, hangga't maaari sa pinakamababang level na maaari nating gawin (is really give the discretion, the power, the function, as much as possible, to the lowest level as much as we can)," he added.
***
Related to this, at press time, the NPT received an e-mail from the office of Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla saying he was “more than ready to level up his efforts to pursue federalism,” especially after the President expressed support for it.
Padilla said one way to do this is to discuss proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution to ensure the power to provide services truly goes to the local government units.
"Matagal ko nang isinusulong ang pederalismo, kung kaya't isang malaking inspirasyon ang pahayag ng ating Pangulo tungkol dito. Handa akong gawin ang lahat para makamtan ito (I have long pursued federalism, so the President's statement is a big inspiration for me. I am prepared to do what it takes to achieve this)," said Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
Padilla said he agrees with the President that power should not be concentrated in "Imperial Manila."
In July 2022, Padilla filed Senate Resolution 6 where he said it is high time to fine-tune the 1987 Constitution - including considering a shift to federalism and a parliamentary government - so it can fulfill its goal of providing Filipinos with a just and humane society.
Padilla said the country's economic growth has been "largely centralized" in Metro Manila and its neighboring regions such as Central Luzon and Calabarzon, which accounted for 57 percent of Gross Domestic Product - compared to 43 percent in the other 14 regions - from 2019 to 2021.
He said it is time to study federalism to undertake policy-making and legislative functions "reflective of the concerns of our various geographical regions."
Also, he said a shift to a parliamentary system may provide political stability that would prevent an unconstitutional or divisive way of removing a head of government such as a coup or "mob rule."
***
How federalism will affect moves of the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera to attain autonomy for the region, like we said earlier, remains to be seen.
But then, speakers tapped by the RDC to promote Cordillera autonomy have been saying there is actually no conflict in this since autonomy could be attained first before the country assumes a federal set-up.
But even so, what if Cordillera constituents would reject again another Organic Act to make the region autonomous?
Would a Cordillera Federal State answer the so-called clamor for Cordillera autonomy?
This, while, militant people’s organizations like the Cordillera People’s Alliance are saying “genuine” Cordillera autonomy could not be attained unless the Philippines becomes a genuine (that term again) democratic, nationalist country.
COMBATING
VOTE BUYING, SELLING. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson
George Erwin Garcia cites new strategies to combat vote buying and selling
during the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct.
30 in an interview Tuesday (Aug. 22, 2023) at Camp Crame in Quezon City. He
said they will release guidelines for its Kontra Bigay resolution upon the
approval of Comelec en banc. (PNA photo by Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan)
How the thrust for federalism would affect moves to attain a Cordillera Autonomous Region remains to be seen. But that is going ahead of the story.
Marcos Jr., popularly known as Bongbong made the pitch when he led oath taking of new members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas at Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace on Thursday, August 24.
In his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of new members of his political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the President said the seemingly federal set-up would continue by bringing more power centers to other parts of the country.
"That is very simple. That derives a very simple idea that the stability of a political structure is much more reliable when we have many power centers. If the power centers only belong here in Manila, then pabagsakin mo 'yung Manila, bagsak ang buong Pilipinas (if Manila falls, the entire Philippines would fall)," Marcos was quoted as telling his partymates.
"But with the power centers being given to the local governments, to the local districts, and to those operating at the local level and thereby bringing those power centers to many places, it makes for a more stable political structure and makes a more stable political life," he added.
Marcos also said that the decision-making in the government should be made at the lowest level as possible, saying governors and congressmen should be allowed to decide since they know the situation on the ground.
"What we are talking about here is federalism, and what we have started to do, kahit (even) in all but name, ang ginagawa ay talagang ibinibigay ang discretion, ang power, ang function, hangga't maaari, sa pinaka mababa na level na maari nating gawin. So we are doing the first step of the federal government for the Philippines, in all but name," he said.
"There has to be a central tenet and central principle to what we are doing. And we are talking here about federalism. What we have started to do, in all but name, ang ating ginagawa ay talagang ibinibigay ang discretion, ang power, ang function, hangga't maaari sa pinakamababang level na maaari nating gawin (is really give the discretion, the power, the function, as much as possible, to the lowest level as much as we can)," he added.
***
Related to this, at press time, the NPT received an e-mail from the office of Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla saying he was “more than ready to level up his efforts to pursue federalism,” especially after the President expressed support for it.
Padilla said one way to do this is to discuss proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution to ensure the power to provide services truly goes to the local government units.
"Matagal ko nang isinusulong ang pederalismo, kung kaya't isang malaking inspirasyon ang pahayag ng ating Pangulo tungkol dito. Handa akong gawin ang lahat para makamtan ito (I have long pursued federalism, so the President's statement is a big inspiration for me. I am prepared to do what it takes to achieve this)," said Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
Padilla said he agrees with the President that power should not be concentrated in "Imperial Manila."
In July 2022, Padilla filed Senate Resolution 6 where he said it is high time to fine-tune the 1987 Constitution - including considering a shift to federalism and a parliamentary government - so it can fulfill its goal of providing Filipinos with a just and humane society.
Padilla said the country's economic growth has been "largely centralized" in Metro Manila and its neighboring regions such as Central Luzon and Calabarzon, which accounted for 57 percent of Gross Domestic Product - compared to 43 percent in the other 14 regions - from 2019 to 2021.
He said it is time to study federalism to undertake policy-making and legislative functions "reflective of the concerns of our various geographical regions."
Also, he said a shift to a parliamentary system may provide political stability that would prevent an unconstitutional or divisive way of removing a head of government such as a coup or "mob rule."
***
How federalism will affect moves of the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera to attain autonomy for the region, like we said earlier, remains to be seen.
But then, speakers tapped by the RDC to promote Cordillera autonomy have been saying there is actually no conflict in this since autonomy could be attained first before the country assumes a federal set-up.
But even so, what if Cordillera constituents would reject again another Organic Act to make the region autonomous?
Would a Cordillera Federal State answer the so-called clamor for Cordillera autonomy?
This, while, militant people’s organizations like the Cordillera People’s Alliance are saying “genuine” Cordillera autonomy could not be attained unless the Philippines becomes a genuine (that term again) democratic, nationalist country.
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