THE NEED FOR THE SHIFT OF THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO FEDERALISM FROM THE UNITARY FORM IN THE PHILIPPINES
Submitted by: Rosios, Ruby R. Salcedo, Olivia Nicole M.
ABM 3 – Sr. Mary Dominica Long
Philippines, having a unitary form of government, has experienced and is still experiencing a lot of problems especially when we’re talking about peace in our country. President Duterte said, “If you do not reconfigure the unitary type of government now, which is the one that we’re using, and if there is no change in Mindanao, there will be no peace until the end of time for the Philippines.” He calls for a shift to federalism to solve
this kind of difficulties within our country. Federalism is a form of government where the country will break into autonomous regions with a national government focused only on interests with nationwide bearing: foreign policy and defense. India, Brazil and United States of America are some of the countries where federal type of government is observed. A shift to the Philippines’ form of government to Federalism will be favorable to our country because it lessens dependence on Metro Manila, provides more power over funds, brings the government closer to the people and serves as a possible solution to the Mindanao conflict. Former Senator President Aquino Pimentel Jr. is proposing that the country would be divided into 11 federal states however, this would result to uneven distribution of wealth among local units. Regions differ in the availability of natural resources and because of this, less performing regions would remain stagnant. States with good leaders will progress faster while states with ineffective ones will degrade more than ever because national government will not be there to balance them out. There is also a confusing lap in jurisdiction. The responsibility of state government and the national government is not clearly stated. Ambiguities may rise that leads to conflict and confusion of responsibilities. Shifting to federalism won't come cheap. It would entail billions of pesos to set up state governments and the delivery of state services. States will then have to spend for the elections of their officials. However, Federalism will still be beneficial to our country because in this form of government, the dependence on Metro Manila will be diminished in terms of the agreement of activities and projects with the national and local government. The locals can decide for themselves. It is important for a high populated country to distribute the power because they also experience problems wherein there is a need for a quick decision and a solution. Without federalism, they will still be waiting for the approval of the decision that will come from a distant place, Manila where the national government is located. Local government will
have more power over funds and their resources with federalism. The unitary form of government here in the Philippines makes it slower for the projects, budget and other decisions of local government to be addressed because it still requires for the approval of the national government that is located in Manila. One of the problems experienced by local governments is that they can only collect real estate tax and business permit fees but if the system of government will change, they could retain more of their income and would be required to turn over only a portion to the state government they fall under. Thus, the money of the local and state governments could be spend on programs and other government activities without waiting for the approval of the national government. Federalism will also bring the government closer to the people. It will make all local leaders, including those part of political dynasties, more accountable to their constituents. State governments will no longer have any excuse for delays in services or projects that, in the present situation, are often blamed on choking bureaucracy in Manila. Federalism is a possible solution to the Mindanao conflict, because within the federalist system the creation of the state of Bangsamoro may address concerns of separatists who crave more autonomy over the administration of Muslim Mindanao. The Philippines should make a move now because the condition of the country economically is not that good and changing the form of government will open the country to new opportunities, improvements and high chances of success. A shift to the Philippines’ form of go vernment to Federalism will be favorable to our country because
it lessens dependence on Metro Manila, provides more power over funds, brings the government closer to the people and serves as a possible solution to the Mindanao conflict.
