Federalism, President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign battle cry, was top of all other topics during the sectoral consultations for the proposed amendments of the 1987 Constitution.
In a statement on Saturday, Rep. Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte) said the proposed shift to a federal form of government "was the widely preferred choice by the guests and resource persons for they believe it will provide a venue for equal distribution of resources and decentralization of powers."
Guests and participants to the consultations, spearheaded by the House committee on constitutional amendments chaired by Rep. Mercado, also believed that the shift will benefit largely the far-flung regions and provinces of the country.
The House panel concluded this week its series of public consultations on Charter change (Cha-cha), and collated the views of representatives from nine sectors and resource persons from 10 agencies and institutions.
Among those consulted were representatives of the urban poor, non-government organizations, research institutions, indigenous peoples, farmers and fisher folk, youth, labor, education, and professionals.
Resource person Lito Lorenzana, president and chairman of the board of Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI), said they want a shift to "a system with clear division of authority between the national government and the regional governments..."
The present unitary-presidential form of government, he said, is "one of the worst forms of government in the world, citing a study where the country ranks 150 out of 188 countries in the world that have the worst form of government."
Moreover he said, "Based on empirical data, the 10 most successful countries in the world have federal-parliamentary forms."
In a statement on Saturday, Rep. Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte) said the proposed shift to a federal form of government "was the widely preferred choice by the guests and resource persons for they believe it will provide a venue for equal distribution of resources and decentralization of powers."
Guests and participants to the consultations, spearheaded by the House committee on constitutional amendments chaired by Rep. Mercado, also believed that the shift will benefit largely the far-flung regions and provinces of the country.
The House panel concluded this week its series of public consultations on Charter change (Cha-cha), and collated the views of representatives from nine sectors and resource persons from 10 agencies and institutions.
Among those consulted were representatives of the urban poor, non-government organizations, research institutions, indigenous peoples, farmers and fisher folk, youth, labor, education, and professionals.
Resource person Lito Lorenzana, president and chairman of the board of Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI), said they want a shift to "a system with clear division of authority between the national government and the regional governments..."
The present unitary-presidential form of government, he said, is "one of the worst forms of government in the world, citing a study where the country ranks 150 out of 188 countries in the world that have the worst form of government."
Moreover he said, "Based on empirical data, the 10 most successful countries in the world have federal-parliamentary forms."
Preconditions
Lorenzana cited four preconditions for the effective shift to federalism:
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Lorenzana cited four preconditions for the effective shift to federalism:
-Indispensability of real political parties with clear ideological orientation with defined objectives and concepts of governance;
-Enactment of a law banning political dynasties to level the playing field and provide equal opportunities to all capable leaders to serve;
-Passage of the freedom of information (FOI) bill to enforce transparency in all transactions in government; and
-The initiation of electoral reforms that would put in place a system that will not pervert the will of the populace.
University of the Philippines (UP) Political Science Professor Dr. Clarita Carlos enumerated possible benefits of a federal system.
She said it would give a lot of leeway and maneuverability to local governments as the country faces a full ASEAN integration, address political dynasties as political parties will be forced to discipline themselves or risk committing a political suicide, and it could be a venue to initiate moves to harmonize and standardize inter-parliament tansactions in the ASEAN.
Among the groups consulted during the culmination of the Cha-cha consultations were:
Resource persons from the following agencies and organizations were also invited:
University of the Philippines (UP) Political Science Professor Dr. Clarita Carlos enumerated possible benefits of a federal system.
She said it would give a lot of leeway and maneuverability to local governments as the country faces a full ASEAN integration, address political dynasties as political parties will be forced to discipline themselves or risk committing a political suicide, and it could be a venue to initiate moves to harmonize and standardize inter-parliament tansactions in the ASEAN.
Among the groups consulted during the culmination of the Cha-cha consultations were:
-Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI);
-Center for Scientific Research and Strategic Development. Inc. (CSRSDI);
-Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG);
-Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO);
-National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL);
-Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV);
-National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP);
-Legal Rights and Natural Resources - Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines;
-Party-list groups Bayan Muna, ANAC-IP, Sagip and COOP NATCCO;
-Department of Agriculture (DA);
-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
-Unyon ng mga Maggagawa sa Agrikultura;
-National Youth Commission (NYC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
-Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA);
-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP);
-ommission on Higher Education (CHED);
-Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities (PASCU); and
-Institute of Integrated Electric Engineers of the Philippines.Resource persons from the following agencies and organizations were also invited:
-Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa);
-1971 Constitutional Convention;
-Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC);
-2005 Consultative Constitutional Commission;
-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);
-Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT);
-Department of Energy (DOE); Department of Health (DOH); and
-Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Source: gmanetwork
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