Federalism divides constitutional powers between national and local units of government. Such a system could provide political buffers to prevent a popular majority controlling the central government from exercising abusive powers over minority groups .The federalist form of government serves to defuse tensions by allowing local and regional centers of power to raise and spend money as they see fit without dictates from the central government. Revenue-sharing arrangements are critical because power follows resources: when the central government denies regions the right to raise and spend money, it is tantamount to denying them authority,
As our country laboring for Presidential election in 2010, there is an emerging debate about the form of government the country should assume. Should Pidalism Banana Republic continue with a bicameral form of government, or change to a federal form of government in order to accelerate development and halt widespread poverty. In the Banana Republic of Gloria, form of government power is Monopolized. The Donya Gloriavitch has the absolute power of all enacting laws, tax enforcement, and revenue collections.
Sen. Pimentel is proposing a solution to stop her kleptomaniac corruption,in the federal form of government local authorities have some laws making and taxing authorities as the central government. It is not a bad idea for Sen.Pimentel to fundamentally refit the institutions and form of government considering the current situation. In fact, it is meaningful to engage in these kinds of debate.
Good governance entails empowering people to be independent economically and financially. Independent thoughts and mindset can only be development when the people are capable of being economically independent and not dependent on government as the sole institution of their well-being. This then breeds integrity and honesty. Therefore serving in government is viewed as service to nation not as a mean of enriching oneself at the expense of the citizenry.
This then maybe the answer and suggest that the remedy to the crisis in Banana Republic of Gloria is to change the form of Pidalism government to federal which is realistic at this time since the end of her transition is too near for such a significant overhaul of the political system. But we need to focus our energy on creating an environment in which a stout private sector can be developed to create jobs and empower the citizenry. Such an initiative will create a robust middle class in which there will be radical transformation in the mind set of people from greed of conspicuous consumption or greed of poverty to service to nation and fellow citizens.
Kung may 20/20 vision si Pimentel, malinaw din ba ang mata niya noon nang umakyat siya sa entablado na hawak-kawak ang mikropono sa panunumpa ni Gloria bilang Pangulo? O baka naging malinaw lang ang mga mata niya nang hindi siya pinili ni GMA bilang Bise Presidente at Senate President noon…kaya tuluyan nang naging mabagsik na taga-opposition?
Mayroong akong napuna sa artikulo na medyo taliwas tungkol sa panukala ni Sen. Pimentel.
1. Hindi ito magiging hadlang sa election 2010 kung kaya hindi ito inilunsad bilang isang remedyo sa kasalukuyang krisis.
2. Sa pagkaalam ko, ang Federal system ay isang plataporma ng PDP-Laban nang itatag ito noong 1982 kaya hindi ito out of the blue na idea at ngayon lang isinusulong.
Sen.Pimentel said that the federal system will reduce the threats of coup attempts, make the government more responsive to the people’s needs and national interests and bring the blessings of economic development to the greatest number of Filipinos.
Federal system of government will not be a reality for as long as Gloria is in power. She’s more interested with the parliamentary form of government. Further complicating the issue is Nor Missuari’s clamor for independent and autonomous Mindanao Republic. Now that Nor is free again (on bail), he promised to campaign for and to pursue (through legislation?) the creation of an Autonomous Republic (not ARMM) of Mindanao. Will the Federated systen accomodates Missuari’s goal. This is something serious because the peace process in Muslim Mindanao is at stake again.
sorry it should be Nur Missuari.
Pimentel said the creation of 10 federal states in the country — 4 in Luzon, 3 in the Visayas and 3 in Mindanao — would trigger the fastest economic development in the entire country.
With the dispersal of political power among the 10 federal states, there would be less threats of coup d’etat from military adventurists.
Those who want to stage a coup to put themselves in power by military force or strategem will have to think, at least, 10 times before they execute any coup attempt. After all, if they capture the seat of power of one of the federal states, the other nine would still be functioning outside of their control.
Under a federalized Philippines, each of the 10 component federal states should have the power to develop itself economically without the need of securing permission from the central government. Those federal states that could not generate enough funds for their own development may get a kind of subsidy for their specific needs from the central government through what is known as the equalization fund .
The shift to a federal system, will not only speed up the country’s economic development but also lay down the foundations for peace and development in Mindanao and in the entire country.In general terms if we federalize the Republic, one of the major causes of underdevelopment, hence the instability of the country — the Moro secessionist wars in Mindanao — would be dissipated.
Maganda ang aim ng federalism ni Pimentel, but ‘Glorialized’ na ang lahat ng pulitikos sa Pinas, kaya 10x na Gloria ang maghahari sa Pinas. Bakit hindi tingnan ng mga senadores and pagbutihin ang mga programa sa education at health. Mas importante na maimprove ang mga ito, lalu na ang pag instill ng values sa kukote ng mga bata. All of these talks of federalism are about politics, politics and politics, nothing for the poor Juans and Pedros.
“Glorialized” na ang mga pulitiko sa Pilipinas, totoo iyan habang may perang pinag-uusapan. Papaano na kung wala nang datong na umaagos pa mula sa Malakanyang? Magandang pagusapan ang mga batas para sa edukasyon at kalusogan pero kasamang anonanga, kung walang sapat pera, kakayahan, at sinsiridad sa parte ng ehikutibo na ipatupad ang mga batas na ito, waipek pa rin at nagsasayang lang ng laway ang mga senadores natin. On the other hand sa halip na Federalismo ang pinaguusapan, bakit hindi na lang sulosionan ang mga loopholes ng batas na nagbibigay sa ehikotibo ng labis na kapangyarian upang paikotin ang mga tao sa mga kalokohan ng mga nakaupo dito. Dapat ang presidente ay walang immunity sa mga massive na kaso ng katiwalian at pagabuso sa kapangyarihan. Sana lang naman.
Maganda ay pag-aralan muna natin itong panukalang batas ni Sen.Pimentel.Maganda rin ang Federal.Dito nga ay federal ang sistema ng gobyerno at wala akong nakikitang masama sa pag-papairal ng batas.Lahat ay pantay pantay.Mahirap man o mayaman.
Wala akong reklamo sa pederalism dahil enjoy akong tumira sa aking lugar na ang anyo ng gobyerno ay pederal.
Pero kailangan talagang pag-aralang mabuti yan lalo na at ‘Glorialized’ na ang Pinas politics, it’s gone to the bottom of nowhere.
Kung sinuman ang papalit sa pekeng presidente, kung mapapalitan ang impakta, ang dapat munang pagtuunan ng pansin ay ang basics…education, health and welfare (sabi ni doc), food and agriculture, etc.
Dapat ay defriefing ang gawin sa nakararaming pinoy!
Madaling alipinin ang mga taong mangmang!
artsee,
Naging 0/0 ang paningin nun ni Pimentel, hindi kasi pinagana ang vision.
Ang ganitong diskusyon natin dito sa blog ay siyang hinahanap ng mga nasa likod ng panukalang Federalismo. Dapat talagang pigain natin at saliksikin ang nilalayon ng Federalismo para sa mga Pinoy kung talagang naaangkop sa atin ang ganitong uri ng pamahalaan.
Dahil nga sa talamak na gloriazation, laging may duda ang ibang sektor kapag may bago na namang paksa na paguusapan. At sapagkat may duda, maganda ring pumapailanglang ang pagdududa sapagkat nagbabasa at nakikinig ang may panukala ng Federalismo. Ibig sabihin noon, hindi na nakapikit ang mga tao sa kung anong gusto nilang mangyari. Ang ibig sabihin noon, nagkaroon na ng boses ang mga tao upang ipaalam ang kanilang saloobin at hindi na lamang magpapakumbaba sa mga kaganapan.
Federal’ok na sa 16 senador
Pilipino Star – Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Umabot na sa 16 na senador ang sumusuporta sa panukala na baguhin na ang porma ng gobyerno at gawin itong federal form matapos madagdagan kahapon ang bilang ng mga senador na nagsusulong nito.
Umabot na kahapon sa 16 o mayorya ng mga senador ang sumusuporta sa Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 matapos lumagda sa resolusyon sina Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, at Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Nauna nang lumagda sa resolusyon sina Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Sens. Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Pia Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon Revilla Jr., at Senate President Manuel Villar.
Nakasaad sa Senate Joint Resolution No.10 ang panawagan na i-convene ang Kongreso sa isang Constituent Assembly upang ami yendahan ang Konstitusyon para sa pagtatayo ng isang Federal System na gobyerno. (Malou Escudero)
Sino pa sa mga senador ang hindi nakapirma sa Federal system na panukala ni Sen. Pimentel? Nakapirma na ang hinihintay kong si Sen. Lapid, ito pa yata ang wala pa sa listahan bukod sa 16:
1. Miriam Santiago
2. Dick Gordon
3. Jamby Madrigal
4. Mar Roxas
5. Antonio Trillanes
6. Allan Cayetano
7. ?
Kuya Joeseg,
Mukha yatang nagbabasa ang mga senador dito sa Cocoy’s Delight at nagpirmahan na sila sa panukala ni Sen.Pimentel.
Sumasang-ayon sila sa mga comment natin dito.Mabuhay ka Manong Cocoy at mabuhay din tayong lahat na naririto na nakikipagtalakayan sa mga issue.
Kutsara
Kahapon kasi si Sen. Lapid lang ang gusto kong pumirma para maging 12 na at lusot na as a majority. Pero sa dyaryo ngayon, naging 16 na silang lahat dahil siguro may nagturo na pinaguusapan natin dito. May pito pang hindi nakakaboto o ayaw nila at 6 lang ang na-recall ko ang pangalan. May isa pa hindi ko maisip ang pangalan.
Alam ko na kung sino ang hindi ko naisama sa pitong hindi pa nakapirma sa proposed Federal sytem au si Joker Arroyo. Samakatuwid, ito ang pito:
1. Miriam Santiago
2. Dick Gordon
3. Jamby Madrigal
4. Mar Roxas
5. Antonio Trillanes
6. Allan Cayetano
7. Joker Arroyo
I gathered the following from news reports, info apparently coming from Sen. Pimentel to clarify some points:
1. The Federal state would retain the presidential system and there will be no shift to parliamentary form of government.
2. Under the proposal, each federal state shall be represented by six senators elected by those living in the state, and an additional nine senators will be elected by qualified Filipino citizens overseas.
3. The House of Representatives will have not more than 350 members elected by legislative districts.
According to Sen. Pimentel, the present Constitution provides for a unitary system of government where the country’s development programs are centrally determined, planned, funded and implemented by the national government in Manila. Under a federal system, the powers of government are delegated to the different federal states to enable them to run their affairs with the least interference from the federal government.
Pawang mga panukala lamang pero ayon sa isang report, nalaman din na ang mga senador ay magsisilbi ng anim na taon habang ang mga kongresista ay tatlong taon. Limitado ang termino ng mga senador sa dalawang termino at kongresista, apat na termino.
Ang isang kakaiba rito, sa paghalal ng mga senador, anim ang manggagaling sa mga Filipino na nasa abroad. Kapag natuloy ito, tiyak maglalabasan ang iba pang blogs katulad ng Cocoy’s Delight in order to gain adherents and serve as sounding board for prospective candidates.
Nawala ito, ulitin ko lang.
According to Sen. Pimentel, the present Constitution provides for a unitary system of government where the country’s development programs are centrally determined, planned, funded and implemented by the national government in Manila. Under a federal system, the powers of government are delegated to the different federal states to enable them to run their affairs with the least interference from the federal government.
Talagang maraming dapat pausapan dito sa Federal Republic of Philippines kung talagang dumating na ang punto na pagdebatehan.
Isang importanteng aspeto, paano ang tax system na paiiralin kumpara sa kasalukuyang set-up.
Ang maliwanag dito ayon sa aking pagkakaunawa, there will be 3 levels of taxes—federal, state and local government. Dahilan sa ang backbone ng any organization ay depende sa makakalap na buwis, madugo ang usapan dito kapag dumating na sa pondo ito ang debate.
Raul GungGung Gonzalez said he is concerned that a
provision in the Senate proposal to change the form of government into a federal system could break the country apart.
ka Greggy magpaprito kaya tayo ng galunggong kay Ka Cocoy nang makagat natin ang ulo ng gungung na iyan. Laging kontra palihasa’y may green card na siya kay Taning ng impierno.
Utak galunggong ang Punyakulis na GunGung na iyan.Papano naman mahahati ang Pinas sa Federal Government.Ma unite nga dahil magiging United States of the Philippines.
Hahahaha! Sick-retary of justice, mahahati raw ang Pinas sa Fed Gov’t. He’s really mentally sick!
Ang gusto kasi ni Sir Raul O, ang mawala ay mga senador kaya kontra siya sa Federalismo. Pero sa tingin ko, gusto rin ni Sir Raul O ang bagong sistema para maka kandidato siya sa kanyang probinsiya sa Iloilo. Magkasama sila doon ni Miriam at pagnagkataon, doon nila babalakin na ihiwalay ang Iloilo at gawin itong isang independent country. Birds of same feather, pareho lang.
Meantime, pansinin natin kung boboto o hindi si Miriam sa panukalang Federalismo.
Si Raul Sick-retary of Justice…si Nani Perez naman dating Sex-retary of Justice.
I have been following reactions on the proposed Federal system, first among the senators and as I listed in my previous post, I noticed that Sen. Joker Arroyo is one among those who have not signed yet or may not in favor of the proposal. It turned that he’s really against it and here’s the link for the report:
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080430100
Mayroon pa akong isang post na nawawala. I commented that among the Senators, it’s Joker Arroyo who came out with an statement that he’s against the proposal.
Among the newspapers columnists, Antonio C. Abaya
of the Standard Today is the first I read to write a column against Federal system,
Here’s the first two paragraphs of his column:
“My American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘fol-de-rol’ as ‘foolish talk or procedure, or nonsense.’ And that is what this recurring advocacy for federalism is: foolish talk and nonsense.
Senate Minority Leader Nene Pimentel is principal author of a Senate resolution calling for a debate on Charter Change (again), for a revision of the Constitution to shift from a unitary to a federal system of government. And Pimentel wants this debate to happen before
the presidential elections in 2010.”
Kuya Joeseg,
Iyan si Tony Abaya ay bayaran ng Malacanang.Ano nga ba ang isusulat niya kundi pabor sa amo niya at kontra sa opposisyon.
Para sa akin maganda ang panukala ni Sen.Pimentel tungkol sa sistema ng Federalismo at boto ako.
Kutsara
Hangarin nating himayin ang bawat angulo nitong Federalismo para maiwasan kung hindi man tuluyan nang mawala ang gulo sa gobyerno kung kaya kailangan nating malaman ang lahat nasaloobin ng bawat panig.
Nandito pa ang isang kontra mula rin sa Manila Standard, si Jojo Robles sa kanyang column: Not so fast, senators!
“No one needs to be told that times are hard. But if you listen to the proponents of federalism in the Senate, you’d think we could easily bankroll 75 senators (not including any from Metro Manila) and up to 350 congressmen in the bigger House of Representatives.
Talk about runaway inflation. That means expanding the Senate to more than three times its current size and and adding nearly 75 percent more congressmen…”
Sorry, I forgot to include the link to be able to read in whole the column of Jojo Robles:
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=jojoRobles_april30_2008
A blog (A Simple Life) is amenable to the Federalism but put out this observation:
One thing of concern though, is that 11 states plus one administrative region I think, is just a bit too many. Seven (7) states and an administrative region would be better, i.e., feasible and sustainable:
1. Northern Luzon (Ilocos, CAR, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon)
2. Southern Luzon (CALABARZON, Mindoro, Marinduque, Bicol)
3. Western Visayas (Western Visayas, Romblon, Palawan)
4. Eastern Visayas (Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas)
5. Northern Mindanao (Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, CARAGA)
6. Southern Mindanao (Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN)
7. Bangsamoro (ARMM)
8. Federal Administrative Region (NCR)
***
Earlier when only eleven were in favor of the proposed Federalism, a political pundit Mon Casiple wrote this:
“When Malacañang drumbeaters flew a trial balloon on another round of charter change a few weeks ago, it basically signaled the exploration, if not a serious attempt, at initiating the process. Of course, this will certainly be within the context of term extension.
However, a few were puzzled when Senator Pimentel launched a charter change initiative–ostensibly for federalism–just a few days ago. Just as swiftly, Secretary Bunyi announced that the Palace has no plans for charter change at this time.
The Pimentel move is supported by 10 senators, including Senate President Manny Villar. What gives? The logical suspicion–given the consistent anti-cha-cha position of most senators is that it is a gambit essentially to preempt a reportedly serious Palace decision to launch a charter change initiative in the few months remains before the 2010 election fever sets it. It is a political thrust designed to control the tempo on the issue and prevent it from endangering the 2010 elections…”
While the local government units are silent about the proposed Federal system, based on my exposure in local governance, I think majority of governors and mayors, if given the choice, will oft for it for the simple reason that they can get away from the clutches of a highly centralized government in Imperial Manila.
But at the moment, they will keep mum for fear that there IRA or whatever support coming from Malacanang will stop. As we know, most of the LGUs are very much in dire need for funds for the projects as they can implement for lack of local resouces.
It is in this situation that during the People’s Initiative or cha-cha, the governors and mayors were usually herded to Malacanang where they pledged support to cha-cha. It’s their backing that the administration very much relied on and what JDV thought the shift to parliamentary form was in the bag. But the the Supreme Court abrupty thwarted their dancing cha-cha when they voted 7-6 that the petition for con-ass was deficient and did not meet the requirements. Kamuntik na.
Sen. Joker Arroyo said a new attempt to amend the 1987 Constitution to switch to a federal system and create 11 federal states would create 11 little fiefdoms and 11 little kings.
Joint Resolution 10 for Charter change, or Cha-cha, principally authored by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., has already obtained the endorsement of 15 senators. Pimentel said the number of signatories would even reach 18, as he expressed optimism that the resolution would get moving in the Senate.
This is the reaction of Ernie Maceda in his Tribune column regarding the proposed Federal system:
“Waste of time. With a rice and food crisis hitting everyone, why are 10 senators devoting valuable time to Charter Change? Definitely adopting a federal system of government will not produce more rice. Sen. Richard Gordon has scheduled a series of hearings on the proposal.
In a federal system, 20 rich provinces will progress and grow richer. 60 poor provinces, especially the 20 poorest ones, will further stagnate. Sixty poor provinces will spend much needed resources for the expenses of a new state legislature. How will Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Catanduanes and Batanes provinces survive?
Stop tinkering with the Constitution in these critical times. That can wait until after 2010. And let a Constitutional Convention do it.
And Senator Pimentel, will you kindly amend your local government code and return the agricultural extension and health functions back to the National Government? It hasn’t worked.”
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A proposal lacking a consensus
I find this article very relevant. Iposte ko na rito para pwedeng balikan:
By Manuel L. Quezon III
Philippine Daily Inquirer -05/05/2008
MANILA, Philippines – Even as the House is poised to begin discussions with the Senate on Sen. Aquilino Pimentel’s federalism proposal, the public has a lot of catching up to do, beginning with getting its hands on the actual text of the Senate’s resolution and then dissecting it. The public needs to do this, because once the House starts haggling with the Senate over federalism, the public could end up squeezed out of the discussion.
Read the rest of the column:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080505-134578/A-proposal-lacking-a-consensus
Philippine federalism is one of those truly debatable issues, which is why I’m happy to throw my hat into the ring on this. Of the countries in far and southeast Asia that you mentioned in your article, one stands out as the exception in the group: Indonesia . That country is a basket case, I think you will agree, because like the Philippines , it is a nation forged by combining what essentially were many nations. The others on your list, however, have had strong national identities for centuries, some for at least a millenium.
Until 1900 or thereabouts the Philippines was not really a nation. We were Ilocanos, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Visayans (with all the various sub-groups) and Moros.
The country has always been an imperfect union, with Tagalog ascendancy having been forced upon the rest of the “country” by a central government that has been seen as elitist, uncaring and exploitative. The country’s leadership and business elite seemingly care only about what Manila thinks.
Lately, with the rise of Cebu, Davao and the Clark-Subic corridor, there has been a wider clamor for a decentralized government. The various regions increasingly look less and less to Manila for guidance in political, social and economic development. Strong regional identification, similar to what was prevalent in the pre-hispanic and Spanish times, is becoming more and more evident.
Just as the United States could not have become one country with a unitary form of government, the Philippines is becoming more and more unruly, with the various regions asserting their right to a stronger say in governance.
A people as diverse as Filipinos cannot really function well under a system where one of the tribes, the Tagalogs, rule all the other tribes, some of which actually outnumber the Tagalogs.
A federal system, which grants regional autonomy to the various regions, i.e., budget powers, taxing powers, seats of government, etc., will empower the various regions. A race to preeminence may be one of the unintended consequences of federalism, with Cebuanos trying to outdo the Ilocanos, and the Kapampangans and Bicolanos insisting that they have a say in the outcome.
I think federalism offers exciting possibilities for accelerating regional economic, political and social growth. I would carefully study this option before dismissing it outright.
I think most of the other senators merely signed the Resolution because it called for a debate on it. I surmise that they have not really made up their minds, so please don’t be too harsh on them.
We have no history of federated existence, and if this proposed federation succeeds, the Philippines would be the first as such to succeed. We won’t be an example because it could be worse for this splintered country.
Federated countries were originally autonomous states that combined into one union. This was the US case, independently established colonies. This was the case for Germany , where the states were even Republiks. This was the case in Malaysia , since they were ruled separately by sultans indendent of each other. This made it easy for Singapore to secede from Malaya in 1962. However, Malaysia ‘s central government is very strong, and the states have minimal powers.
Allow me to go back to this thread to post this latest article on Federalism which appeared on today Daily Inquirer, May 14, 2008. It may be useful reference in future discussion:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view/20080514-136510/The-need-to-federalize