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amend the 1987 Constitution. In the eyes of our President, it is high time
that we should be sensible of our countrys malady, and, therefore,
undertake the necessity of some speedy and powerful remedy. We in the
Mindanao business community think that no other alternative is more
compelling.
One of the private sector commitments under the Mindanao Action Agenda
is the shift to a federal form of government. To help achieve this goal, the
MBC and the local chambers of commerce together with Kusog Mindanaw
as the lead non-government organization, commit to pursue local
empowerment under a federal set-up through the establishment of the
multi-sectoral Mindanao Coalition of Cities for Transparent and
Accountable Governance.
Simplified Bureaucracy
Also, a direct impact of a strong link between the government and the
business sector opens broad spectrum of business support services in an
effort to achieve a consolidated approach when representing the viewpoint
of private enterprise in its relations with the government. This would allow
the development of small businesses to be competitive with large
businesses in any industry. Through direct involvement and community
action, we see rapid development and the proliferation of our interests.
With these advantages it can hardly be supposed that the adverse position
would have an equal chance for a favorable issue.
WE ARE for a federal form of government. This commitment has been
enshrined in our advocacy since we converged in 1991 as the broadest and
largest grouping of cooperatives, people's organizations, non-government
organizations and non-government individuals. It is within the context of
political parity and economic equitythe twin goals of genuine people's
development-- that firmed up our commitment for a federal republic of the
Philippines. The interrelatedness of political stability and economic
empowerment are clearly manifested as we assist and work with the
communities in the six regions, as well as in the 25 provinces in Mindanao.
Such relationship can also be gleaned from the national development
perspective: between Mindanao and the central government in Manila.
Our collective quest for peace is anchored on the results of the talks
between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, between
the government and National Democratic Front, and between the
government and the Revolutionary Proletariat Movement in Mindanao.
While we remain optimistic on the mainstream peace process, greater
people's participation in the peace talks must also take place.
The Lumad peoples have persistently expressed their own preference for
self-determination, having seen that their absorption into the unitary
political system has brought about the establishment and solidification of a
threat to their very own existence and the integrity of their distinct cultures.
The Bangsamoro have their own distinct identity and vested interest that
must be respected and cannot be satisfied by a continued subscription to
political uniformity. With the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,
the central government has allowed, albeit grudgingly, a departure from the
stranglehold of central authority. The passage of the Local Government
Code in 1991 further chips away powers from central authority; the local
government units from the regional autonomy to the barangay are able to
exercise greater self-determination.
The right to decide and choose that is best for one's self is a sacred right
that cannot be taken away from any individual and citizen. Those deprived
of this right are also unable to fulfill their aspirations for the future.
Under a federal set up, greater powers will be devolved to the local
citizenry, making grassroots participation more meaningful and broaden
the powers of the citizens over the state.
Self-determination comes in many forms. In the political sphere, it comes
in the form of semi-independent units. In the Philippines: sitio, barangay,
municipality, province, regional autonomy, nation. Self-determination
grows with increased political autonomy or the ability to stand on one's
own feet. In the political history of the world, greatest autonomy to political
units is experienced by the states of a federal state.
Diversity and development might seem to sit oddly together. But they are
intimately linked, and the report seeks to show that they are not related in
the way many people assume. The UNDP's press release says
unambiguously that there is no evidence that cultural diversity slows
development, and dismisses the idea that there has to be a trade-off
between respecting diversity and sustaining peace. In countries like the
Philippines, and in regions such as Mindanao, there is enough to argue that
indeed diversity plays an important role in development given the
composition of the ethnic groups: 13 ethnolinguistic groups representing
the Bangsamoro people, 18 ethnolinguistic groupings of the Lumad, and the
settlers who are Ilonggo, Ilocano, Cebuano, Boholanon, and so on.
The not too obvious but significant advantage of federalism is its ability to
address the demands of a pluralistic society, meaning one that has a
mixture of populations of diverse cultures and ethnolinguistic identities.
This is nowhere more pronounced than in Mindanao, with its Moro
population of about 4 million and the Lumads numbering about 2 million,
altogether making about 40% of the total Mindanao population.
Although there is a need to establish correlation, it has been noted that the
most of the politically stable and economically advanced countries in the
world follow a federal set-up. These include Germany, the United States of
America, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Argentina, and closer
to home, India and Malaysia.
It is interesting to note that seven of the top twelve countries in the world in
terms of per capita income in 1997 were federal, while six of the top 12 in
gross domestic product were likewise federal, while six of the top 12 in
gross domestic product were likewise federal.
Assuming that we are under a federal structure, would the economic crisis
faced by the nation today be isolated in Manila only? It is definitely
possible.
Decentralized fiscal systems offer more potential for improved
macroeconomic governance than do centralized fiscal systems, because
they require greater clarity about the roles of various players and decision-
makers and-to ensure fair play-greater transparency in rules governing
interactions.
Indeed the federal system is worth looking into as a more ideal set-up for
Mindanao and the Philippines. More importantly, it is one system that may
be able to effectively address the current and peculiar situation of
Mindanao not only as a victim of neglect but also as a unique island-region
that harbor three peoples of diverse backgrounds, customs, culture,
traditions, and social systems. More specifically, it is a political option that
may help prevent a stalemate that can lead to another Mindanao war.
Sources:
-oOo-
In the book of Dr. Jose V. Abueva titled, Charter Change for Good
Governance published by the Citizens Movement for a Federal Philippines
(CMFP), eleven States has been proposed. These are:
Contiguousness; and
Culture
After 15-20 years, the Second Step will take place. This means that
Congress or the New Parliament will mandatorily review these eight States
and see if there will be a need to divide one or more of these States into a
maximum 9to avoid gerrymandering) of two. Of course, the same three
criteria mentioned earlier will guide said review. No need for another Cha-
Cha to do this for Congress or the New Parliament Constitution.
This Two Steps approach will end once and for all questions about
economic viability of some States. This also shows that if we really desire
for a Federal Republic of the Philippines in the earliest time, WE CAN DO
IT ONE CHA-CHA. No more of this grassroots/constituent-initiated
transition as proposed by the controversial Consultative Commission
(Con-Com) which is actually a design to delay the adoption of a Federal
System in the country. No more of this two Cha-Chas before a federal
system is finally adopted. Of course sufficient time must be allocated in this
regard. No undue rush on Cha-Cha thru Con-Con.
We are aware that some smaller areas would like to become immediately
as autonomous States such as Palawan, Cebu, SoCSarGen (South Cotabato,
Saranggani and General Santos), etc. To be honest, such position somehow
presents some serious negative reactions especially from anti-federal
people which use this argument that some federalists are creating their own
fiefdoms. That is why we appeal to these federalists to sober up a little
and support our Two Steps strategy. Those places I mentioned can later
on pursue this matter after we gained more experience and improved the
countrys economic standing in implementing the federal system. How
about it guys?
Education
Health
Industry
Police
Others
Autonomous State
Barangays
Although the topic of federalism has been discussed since the 1971
Constitutional Convention, there are still many areas that are not clear even
to political analysts. In the interest of full disclosure, I will state now that I
have always been in favor of a federal system of government and I have
written several columns in the past about this topic. However, today I want
to focus on clarifying certain issues.
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was between the South who wanted a
confederacy and the North who wanted to retain the federal union. That is
the reason why the Southern states that seceded from the United States of
America called themselves the Confederate States of America.
The other issue that must be clarified is that the choice of having a
presidential and parliamentary form of government is a different debate
than choosing a unitary or federal government. Just for emphasis, a
parliamentary or presidential form of government can be instituted in a
federal, unitary or confederate form of government.
There are also three choices that are available parliamentary, presidential
and a combination of the two. United States is an example of a presidential
form; Japan and the United Kingdom have a parliamentary form; and,
France has a combination of both presidential and parliamentary.
Division of powers
In the granting of powers to the state, there are also two ways. If all the
states have the same powers, this is called symmetric federalism. In a
federal form of government where some states are given different powers or
some possess greater autonomy, this is called asymmetric federalism.
This is often done when it is clear that a state or region possess a distinct
culture. In the case of the United Kingdom, Scotland has been given greater
autonomy than England, Wales or Northern Ireland. In Spain the regions
dominated by the Basques and the Catalans have more powers than the
other Spanish regions.
In the division of powers, India has four lists of powers Union List,
Concurrent List, State List, and Residuary List. I am not advocating that we
copy the India model. But I am presenting it here as a possible basis for
discussion.
In the Union List, there are approximately 100 areas which is reserved for
the federal government. Some of the areas are defense, armed forces,
atomic energy, foreign affairs, citizenship, airways, currency, foreign trade,
inter- state trade and commerce, banking, customs, elections and the
Supreme Court.
In the State List, there are more than 60 items on the list. Some examples
are police, local governments, public health and sanitation, land tenures,
fisheries, trade and commerce within the state, public markets and
gambling.
The Concurrent List has more than 50 items where uniformity is desired
but not considered essential. If there is any conflict between the laws made
by the federal and state government, the legislation by the federal
government shall prevail. Some items on this list are criminal law, marriage
and divorce, adoption, forestry, labor unions, education, administration of
justice except Supreme Court and High Courts.
In the United States, the federal government sets the minimum wage but
the individual states have the right to enact its own minimum wage which,
however, must be higher than the federal minimum wage.