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Last week Senator Nene Pimentel presented Senate Resolution No. 10, which would create and establish a federal system of government in our country, before the League of Governors of the Philippines at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. In an interview, Sen. Pimentel reported that 17 senators support his resolution but they just couldn’t agree how to carry out the Charter change for federalism: through constitutional convention or constituent assembly.
At the same time, Senator Nene took a dig at the constitutional convention process, saying that if Marcos had not intervened in the 1973 Convention, most probably they would still be here, drafting a new Constitution. But Nene emphatically said that the manner by which the Constitution would be amended is something that he has no control and would leave it to the powers-that-be to resolve. But he assured that public that – amid fears that his resolution would be used by some unscrupulous politicians to extend their terms – he would definitely not allow anyone to use his resolution as a reason to extend the terms of the president, or members of Congress, as he vowed to stop any attempt to do so by some sectors.
Nene also reported that his presentation was greeted with approval and excitement by the gathering of the members of the League of Governors last week. There are some observations that some sectors of society are objecting to the proposal to shift to federal system, fearing that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo might use it to extend her term of office, and, alas, our people are now quite mistrustful and tired of PGMA and want to see her end her term as chief of state in 2010.
Others fear the federal shift out of sheer ignorance of the proposed system. So I think we should continue our discussions on federalism to enlighten the people. But there is a caveat that I would like to share: we must be wary of politicians who are trying to tailor a kind of federalism that protects their turf and interests, thereby diluting the truest sense of the federal system of government.
Former University of the Philippines president Jose Abueva is proposing that we should also shift to a parliamentary form of government, saying that the presidential system is too adversarial in nature, in which people could see a continuing and endless squabble between the executive and the legislative departments. Abueva believes that a parliamentary-federal system will ensure economic development and growth of our country and people with less politics and more direct governance. Delivery of government services will become more efficient, especially for people in far-flung areas who today are just dependent on the pork barrel of their congressmen.
Professor Abueva has enumerated the advantages of creating the federal system of government in our country as follows:
1. The federal republic will build a just and enduring framework for peace through our ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, especially in relation to Bangsamoro or Muslim Filipinos and our lumad or indigenous peoples;
2. Decentralization and devolution can not move further under the old unitary system despite avowed goals expressed in the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code;
3. The federal republic will empower our citizens by enabling them to raise their standard of living and enhance their political awareness through their participation and efficacy in elections and the making and the carrying out of government decisions at the regional and local levels;
4. The federal government will improve governance by challenging and energizing State and local leaders, entrepreneurs, and citizens around the country to take hold of their destiny. Federalism will release them from the costly, time consuming, stifling, and demoralizing effects of excessive central government controls and regulation in our traditional Unitary System;
5. The Federal republic will thus stimulate and hasten the country’s political, economic, social and cultural development;
6. Federalism, together with parliamentary government, will improve governance by promoting the development of a strong, united, disciplined, and program-oriented political parties that are responsible and accountable to the people for their conduct and performance in and out of power;
7. Gradually the Federal Republic and its Parliamentary Government will broaden and deepen democracy.
Given the advantages discussed by Professor Abueva, there is no question that indeed the federal system of government is advantageous to our country, given its archipelagic terrain. Under a federal system of government we shall have the state government, headed by a state governor, and a local government, composed of the cities, municipalities and barangays.
Pimentel’s version retains the provincial government, saying that if we are to abolish the provinces, federalism’s toughest enemies will be the incumbent governors, and we cannot succeed if we do not align ourselves with the governors. That’s the problem with us Filipinos. We are very fond of wheeling and dealing and have many times failed to exercise the necessary political will.
