Decentralize power in the Philippines by pushing for a federal form of government, particularly in Mindanao
"Let me focus on Mindanao and what is happening today. With the failure of BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law), there is a great, great hurt there. Unless, I said, we can come up with another card which is federalism, nothing, nothing at all, can appease Mindanao. ‘Yan ang nangyayari diyan (That is what's happening there) and that is why it is very important na kung ako ang mapupunta diyan (if I will go there), I would not only offer the BBL–which is the same configuration–but I will offer federalism to all, pati kay Nur Misuari on the western side. That would maybe appease everybody because every Moro politico would really like to see federalism kasi po palpak nga ang BBL (because BBL is a failure) and we have to do this because, as I said, nothing, nothing short, will appease and bring peace to Mindanao. ‘Yan ang importante sa lahat diyan (That's the most important thing of all). You have to right the historical wrong committed against the Moro people." -PRRD
Federalism, according to Merriam Webster dictionary, is the distribution of power in an organization (as a government) between a central authority and the constituent units. An example of a modern federalist country is the United States, which is run by both its national government and independent federal governments per US state.
ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines – Regions with more resources to fuel their development is one promise federalism can deliver, said the tandem of Rodrigo Duterte and Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, March 7.
Their call for a federalist form of government was one aspect of their platform the pair highlighted when they campaigned in vote-rich Rizal province.
They were received at the provincial capitol in Antipolo City by former governor Casimiro Ynares Jr, the patriarch of the Ynares politican clan. Casimiro’s wife, Rebecca, is the incumbent governor seeking reelection in May.
With provincial officials and mayors in the audience, Duterte and Cayetano said local government units (LGUs) will be the primary beneficiaries of federalism.
“The most outstanding feature of a federal set-up is that our resources are ours to benefit from. If it is P100, you get P30, ipadala mo doon sa federal government (give it to the federal government), you retain P70,” said Duterte.
The problem with the current unitary form of government, he asserted, is the unfair distribution of funds between the local government and national government.
No comments:
Post a Comment