Federalism is a proposed system of administration for the Philippines and a revision of the current 1987 constitution. Under Joint Resolution No. 10, proposed by senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., the creation of eleven autonomous regions out of the Philippine Republic which would establish centers of finance and development in the archipelago.[1]
The resolution will require the revision of 14 of the existing 18 Articles of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the addition of two new articles. It seeks to adopt a federal presidential bicameral form of government.
This proposed bill is backed by the 13 senators of the Philippines:
- Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. filed Senate Resolution No. 10
- Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr.
- Sen. Edgardo Angara
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
- Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile
- Sen. Francis Escudero
- Sen. Jinggoy Estrada
- Sen. Gregorio Honansan II
- Sen. Panfilo Lacson
- Sen. Francis Pangilinan
- Sen. Ramon Revilla, Jr.
- Sen. Rodolfo Biazon
- Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri[2]
Eleven States
The states would be Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Minparom (Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon), Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Bangsamoro.[3] These would be similar to the US 50 states.
Federal Administrative Region
Metro Manila will be patterned to the US Washington, D.C., and will be the seat of the Federal government. [3]
Senators Based on states
Other major proposals: the election of senators based on states; the election of senators representing overseas voters; the election of the president and the vice-president as a team; the abolition of the Judicial and Bar Council which screens nominees to the judiciary etc.[4]
House Concurrent Resolution No. 15
Rep. Monico O. Puentevella on May 7, 2008, filed House Concurrent Resolution No. 15 which supported Senate Resolution No. 10 backed by 16 senators. Unlike the Nene Pimentel Senate Resolution, Puentevella included the option of holding a constitutional convention, but excluded the People's Initiative mode.[5] Prospero Nograles, a self-proclaimed advocate of federalism, on May 1, 2008, announced: "This federal system of government is close to my heart as a Mindanaoan leader and I'm sure most of the leaders in Mindanao will agree that we have long clamored for it. Senate Resolution 10 is a pleasant surprise because the Senate has a long history of opposing any move to amend the Constitution." [6] The joint Senate resolution called for the creation of 11 federal states in the country, by convening of Congress “into a constituent assembly for the purpose of revising the Constitution to establish a federal system of government.”
Presidential Visit of Couchepin and Arroyo's backing
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stated to visiting Swiss President Pascal Couchepin: “We advocate federalism as a way to ensure long-lasting peace in Mindanao.”[7] Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, on August 12, 2008, stated: “It’s all systems go for Charter change. We are supporting Senate Joint Resolution No. 10. Naughty insinuations that she [Arroyo] was going for Cha-cha [Charter change] because she wants to extend her term in office prompted the President to make her position clear. She is calling for a constitutional amendment… in order to bring about the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. An opportunity should be given to the whole country to avail of the reform effects of federalism. The sentiment of many people there is to give local officials more authority in order to perform better. And the federal set-up is the way forward to this. The President has approved the way forward and there’s no question about it. If she has the political will to do it she has to muster political will in spite of all these noises.”[8]
Meanwhile, La Union Representative Victor Ortega of La Union, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments said, the results of his survey showed that 115 (94.26%) of the 123 solons were in favor of amending the Constitution. However, opposition and leftist lawmakers questioned the results and intent of Ortega’s survey, and called Arroyo’s proposal a ploy for her “perpetuation in power” and the removal of protectionist provisions in the Charter. Ortega’s survey showed 62 respondents favor Charter change through a constitutional assembly, and 89 respondents were in favor of shifting to a parliamentary form of government compared to 56 who voted for federalism, while 70 respondents preferred to amend the Constitution after the 2010 presidential elections. Members of the committee on constitutional amendments would vote by the end August on whether to amend the Constitution or not.[9]
References
- ^ JOINT RESOLUTION TO CONVENE THE CONGRESS INTO A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, April 23, 2008, <http://senate.gov.ph/14th_congress/resolutions/sjr-10.pdf>. Retrieved on 27 June 2008
- ^ Federalism gets majority backing in Senate
- ^ a b Eleven senators endorse federal system of govt.
- ^ In a surprise move, senators give qualified yes to charter debate.
- ^ gmanews.tv/story, House resolution supports change in form of government
- ^ abs-cbnnews.com, House, Senate begin cha-cha talks next week
- ^ a b newsinfo.inquirer.net, Arroyo resurrects Charter change, Dureza: Federalism needs constitutional amendment
- ^ inquirer.net, ‘All systems go for Charter change’--Palace
- ^ newsinfo.inquirer.net, Solon’s survey: Majority in House for Charter Change
