Case Study: Behind the Federalism

It was more than 3 decades since ratification of the 1987 constitution it seems poised for an
overhaul. In the time of 2016 election one platform of Rodrigo Duterte was Federalism because
he believed that it is the answer to gain the Philippine progress. But now he is our President
and he want to enforce Federalism in our country. The Congress gives an extra efforts to revise
the 1987 constitution, mainly to set up a Federal form of government but the question is
Federalism was really the answer to solve Philippine crisis? Such as poverty, crimes, and
corruption? In current situation we have unitary form of government but in Federalism there
has a distribution of power in the government between Central authority and the constituent.
This form of government have a lot of positive effects but it has also a negative side. Harry
Roque said that there could be uneven development among stated if Federalism pushed
through so it means only some places was experienced development but the rest was not. That
is one of the con's side of federalism, there was a study by our national treasurer during the
term of former president Fidel Ramos where this suggest was began. Only 3 regions can stand
on their own feet under a Federal system and that regions are NCR, Region 3 and region 4, the
southern Tagalog regions. Also the lawmaker said that changing the form of government will
not solve corruption and poverty if their roots are not addressed. We need to find the root of
all crises in order to solve every problem in our country. Federal form of government was also
having a pros side like it can increased the participation of every people to the government and
in so many matters. According to the PDP Laban Model of PH federalism, not surprisingly, in a
country of more than 100 million people, sixty two percent of the country's GDP comes from
Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CLABARZON while the rest of the country is suffering from
underdevelopment and low investment. Our system of government has resulted in grave
imbalance in distribution of resources among regions and local government units. That
imbalance was led to social unrest with various groups especially in Mindanao arming
themselves to fight against the system. And in that problem the PDP Laban was believed that
the solution in this problem was the adoption of federal system of government. For them the
only way to bring about equitable and widespread development in our country is for Central
government to share power Political and economic with the regions and LGUs. They are
believed that federalism is not currently to all of our problems because in fact there have no
cure-all to all nations .Federalism is not a perfect system, but maybe the answer to the
country's lingering problems rooted in our country's multi-year federal nature. In all evidences
that we mention federalism has a lot advantages but behind that advantages there have also
various disadvantages. It is really ok to amend 1987 constitution?

In the Amendments of 1987 constitution, Federalism was emerged because it is a platform

of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte when he was running as a president and now it analyzes
many people in government if it is really suitable to our country. Federalism is a form of
government; the country is broken down into autonomous regions that will have primary
responsibility over the laws, finances, as well as the development of the industries, public
safety, education, healthcare, transportation, recreation, and culture. The National
Government will focus on issues with nationwide impact such as policy and defense.

When Filipinos agreed in Federalism based on the research this will have an advantages
and disadvantages in our country. It has benefits; first, it serves as a deterrent to tyranny and
runaway power. Second, the power will diffuse with state governments so that the power is not
centralized into a single person or group of people. Third, the citizen participation will increase
because by not centralizing all power into the hands of one person or group the power will
closer to the level of common citizen so individual can be more efficient. Fourth is, the
government can be more responsive to citizen needs. And the last one is, the law and policy will
become encourage to innovate. We all know that it will have a lot of positive effects but also it
will have a negative effects when this form of government will implement. Many people says
that even the power will divide and share they will do a race to the bottom. And even it is a
good form of government many researcher says that it is not the solution to all social problems
like the corruption and poverty. And not sure if the Federalism will end the social issues that
our country was facing. Having this form of government the big question is, Can Philippines will
achieve the progress?

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants to change our constitution to make way federalism
and to have an improvement to our country. Federalism is the solution of poverty in our
country but is there really sure if the constitution changes there have no poverty in our
country? If it will have a changes their have an amendments and the Politician will come in and
to extend their term. Many changes was exist when this constitution will change but this
constitution are rejected, because of some of the people and the politician are not agreed to
constitution because they said that maybe no need to revise when an amendments of law is
may serve what should be done instead is a review to find out necessary changes but is there
really need to change constitution? Changing constitution help to the curtail poverty but we
should have not be too serious about this debate of constitution at this time. There are more
important things to do such as against poverty, in fact the work against poverty is why
constitution has to be change.

Many people today are confused about the proposed amendments of the 1987
constitution today set by the presidential Duterte. People cannot determine whether this is the
result of a positive change in our system of government but many do not think that is the right
way to solve the problem of our country, especially if we do not understand whether the
government system will actually change or restore the former constitution and will lose
democracy in our country. we know that people are fighting against democracy where people
power revolution is happening and in the event that the government is back in the future, it is
likely that the situation will go a long way in the country where there will be more chaos and
less . I know that we also know that there is no way to change the problems in our country if we
do not start the change of the government system but why does not the Duterte explain
everything that is really what he plans to do here in our country so people can understand it.
And if the government system really changes it then we know that this is a good result because
it is a country that many people can be affected in the event of its outcome positively. There
are so many problems in our country and we all know that everything has a solution but the
problem of a country has the worst solution of the solution so why not listen to each other's
opinions and study it and not he'll control the country to change and fix it. Why not lead by the
Duterte and by every leader appointed by our government to promote and become a good
model that will immobilize everyone to help solve the problem of the country and say that
there is no difficulty in dealing with each other.

As a Filipino we have the right to intervene in our country in contemporary times. We

must intervene because the stake is high. According to the attorney Christian Monson if the
constitutional change continues to make way for the federalism would be difficult to reverse
the radical changes. Each sit at the position must have sufficient knowledge and ability to
perform their duty at the arrival of complicated matters.
Bishops propose to their pastoral statement to revive the circles of discernment and to use
freedom as godly children who have the right to contemplate discussing and dividing. Have a
consciousness of the consensus and decide according to the light of the teachings of another.
Encourage lawmakers to do the right lawmakers to make the right decisions. As an individual
who has the right to choose whom to vote.

The voice of the people needs to decide if federalism is good in our country or that it
will be more harmonious. Because people make up our country so our voice is important. Let
them know what federalism is and what it can do in our country. People vote in favor of or not
in federalism.Where there is an overriding imperative for national policy making, but there is no
distinct national interest, other than an interest in the convenience and efficiency of uniform
policy, the Committee recommends that the decision be made jointly by the States. The
Committee recommends that, in those cases in which executive intergovernmental bodies have
law-making powers, that law-making decisions be taken in an open meeting which the public
may attend, and a record kept and transmitted with the report mentioned in Recommendation
19, so that Parliaments are kept informed of the laws that govern their jurisdiction. The
Committee recommends that change to the Senate is necessary for it to more effectively
represent State interests in the federation. Change should take place following extensive
community consideration of the issues involved. The Committee recommends that, where an
enhanced intergovernmental relations process necessitates additional political work, it is
desirable that a Minister be given responsibility for intergovernmental relations.Every Filipino
requires to interlope because the Amendments of the constitution which lead to Federalism
and its hard to back in the past with radical changes. Use the freedom being a child of God to
cogitate, poke, discuss, and debate. Encourage the lawmakers to do the truth and right for the
safety and for our own good.
REFERENCE

 http://ateneo.edu/sites/default/files/downloadable-
files/PDF%207.1%20Proposed%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Federal%20Republic.pd
f
 http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/matrix-concom-proposed-charter-amendments.pdf
 http://www.chanrobles.com/article17.htm#.W7tpkHszZdg
 http://logodef.org/proposed-amendments-to-the-1987-philippine-constitution/

GROUP MEMBERS
Albert Orozco
Ronalyn Diocaresa
Precious May Moises
Carmela Arobillo
Kathlene Joy Supremo
Nathanael Sabiduria