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THELOGICDICTATES
FEDERALISMINTHEPHILIPPINESPart1.ACloseViewonFederalisminthePhilippines
Published:October29,2016
ThePhilippineshavegonethroughdifferentformsofgovernmentanddifferentstylesofleadershipaswellasdifferentkindsofleadersadministeringtheFilipinopeople.StartingfromthetimeoftheSpaniards,theFilipinopeoplestartedtoformitsowngovernmenttofightagainstthecolonizers.AndresBonifaciowhoisknowntohisbraveryandnationalisticpointofviewformedtheorganization"Kataas-taasang,Kagalang-galangangKatipunanngmgaAnakngBayan,"alsoknownasKKK,asaformofrevolutionarygovernmenttofightagainsttheSpaniards.ThePhilippineshadsurvivedthebitternessofthecolonizationoftheSpaniardsthroughthisorganization.ThenewgovernmentcamewhentheSpaniardsstartedtoleavethePhilippines,theAguinaldoAdministration.EmilioAguinaldoisageneralevenatthetimesofthe
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SpaniardsandbecamepartoftheKatipunan.HeisknowReferencesalotohiscompanionsandhasasignificantcontributioninKatipunantowidenitsscope,especiallyinCavitewhereheisassignedasPresidenteMunicipal.AguinaldobecamethenewpresidentoftheKatipunanwhentheTejerosConventionwasbeenheldonMarch22,1897inCavitedandhewonasaPresidentagainstAndresBonifacio.Fromthenon,AguinaldotriedtoestablishedthePhilippineGovernmentformallythroughthisorganization.AguinaldoestablishedaDictatorialformofgovernment.Heisthefirdtdictatoroftherepublic.DictatorshipisaformofgovernmentwhereinthepoweriscenteredonthePresident.Hehasthetotalpower.HecontrolthewholePhilippines.Accordingtohistory,theresultofthisdictatorship,Aguinaldocandoabsolutelyanythingandkilledthepeoplewhostandagainsthisway.ThenextadministrationcamewhentheAmericanconqueredthePhilippines.TheAmericansgave10yearstothePhilippineGovernmenttoprovethatitcanstandaloneforitswonself.ThisactiscalledtheTydings-McDuffieAct.ThentheCommonwealthGovernmentwasestablishedandManuelL.QuezonservedasaPresidentfrom1935-1944andnexttohimwasSergioOsmeñawhoservedfrom1944-1946.CommonwealthGovernmentisnotactuallyandabsolutelycontrolledbytheFilipinospeopleevenManuelL.QuezonbecausethisisashadowgovernmentwhereinthePresidentisunderthecontroloftheAmericans.WhentheAmericansleavethePhilippinesandtheJapanesecame,thenewformofgovernmentwasestablished.TheJapanese-sponsoredrepublicwasestablishedandJoseP.LaurelbecamethePresident.ThePhilippinesdidnotreallygainedafullcontrolofgovernanceinthewholecountrybecauseoftheconquerors.WhentheJapaneseleavethePhilippinesthethirdrepublicwasestablishedandthecountrygaineditstrueindependencefromthecolonizers.ManuelA.Roxasbecamethefirstpresidentoftherepublic.Heservedfrom1946-1948asPresidentoftheRepublic.NexttohimwasPresidentElpidioQuirino(1948-1953),PresidentRamonMagsaysay(1953-1957),PresidentCarlosP.Garcia(1957-1961),PresidentDiosdadoMacapagal(1961-1965),andPresidentFerdinandMarcos(1965-1972).Theabovementionedpresidentsoftherepublichasasingleformofgovernmentwhichisdemocratic.ThePhilippinesonlygainedlittlebylittledevelopmentandimprovementintheeconomythroughtheseyearsandtherearetimesduringtheseadministrationsthatthevalueofpesohaddeclined.WhenPresidentFerdinandMarcosduringhissecondtermfrom1972-1986establishedthesecondDictatorialformofgovernment,thevalueofpesobecameequaltothevalueofdollar.Theeconomyofthecountryimproved.Crimesinthecountrywerelessened.Corruptioninthegovernmentgrewbecauseofmartiallaw.Themilitaryhasthefullauthorityalloverthecountry.Therearealsorecordsofhumantraffickingandabuses.Becauseoftheseincidents,therearegroupsthatwasbeenformedagainsttheadministrationandtherearealsosomemembersofthemilitarywhoturnedagaonsttheircommander-in-chief.TherecametheEDSARevolution,andthepeoplechoseCoryAquinoasthenextpresident.The1987constitutionwasbeenratifiedbythepeople.FromthetimeofCpryAquinowhoservedfrom1986-1992,nexttoherisPresidentFidelV.Ramos(1992-1998),JosephEjercitoEstrada(1998-2001),GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo(1stterm:2001-2004).Duringtheseyears,thePhilippinesstatrtedagaintorisefromthebitternesofthedarkpast.Littlebylittle,throughthesePresidentsthePhilippines'conditionimprovedbutpovertyhadnotbeenalleviated.Povertyrapidlyincreasesasthetimegoesbyandtherearelotof
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Filipinoswhosufferbecauseofhunger.Corruptionisstillaliveinthegovernment.WhenGloriaMacapagal-ArroyoturnstobethePresidentoftheRepublicofthePhilippinesonhissecondtermfrom2004-2010,therearemanycontroversiesaboutgraftandcorruptioninthelineofgovernmentandelectoralfraudduringtheMay2004Presidentialelection.Shealsohadathinkingtoswitchintofederalismbutdidnotsucceedbecauseoppositionfromvarioussectorsbelievesthisreformwasusedtoextendhertermlimit.AftertheArroyo'sadministration,thencametheAquino'sAdministration.BenignoSimeonAquinoIIIservedasthe15thPresidentoftheRepublicofthePhilippines.Duringhisterm,thePhilippinesexperiencedanimprovementintermsofeconomyandmanyotherthings.ButtheseimprovementswasnotbeenfeltofalltheFilipinosinvarioussectorsofthesociety.TheQuinoadministrationisagoodstartforthePhilipppinestoriseagainfrombitternesofthedarkpast.AquinoadministrationhasasignificantcontributionintheeconomyofthePhilippinesaswellasprovidingopportunitiestomoreFilipinostohavejobs.ItisagoodstartforthePhilippinesandagoodinvestmentforthenextadministration.IfwewouldliketostudydeeperanddeepertheconditionofthecountryfromthepastcenturyfromthetimeofAguinaldouptothelastadministration,wecansaythatmostoftheFilipinosdidnotexperiencedanyeaseorcomfortinlife.Thisiswhattotaldemocracybroughttous.Thefreedomthatcorruptgovernmentofficialsenjoy,notthegeneralpublic.Mostofthepastadministrationsaredemocraticandasaresult,thePhilippinesonlyriselittlebylittle,inastepbystepprocess.
Now,thePresidentwouldliketochangethesystemofgovernmentfromunitaryformofgovernmenttofederalism.
ThePhilippinesoftodayisintheformofunitarygovernmentwhereinallthepoweriscenteredtothecentralgovernment.Allthepowerthatenablesallthegovernmentofficialstodosomethingcamefromonesourcewhichisthecentralgovernment.Thelocalgovernmentcannotdecideinitsownwillbutwiththeapprovalcomingfromthenationalgovernment.Inthermsofeconomy,thenationalgovernmentisthebottomlineofalltheincomefromdifferentregionsofthecountry.Itreceivesalargepartofeveryregion'sincomeandthenredistributesittodifferentregionsdisproportionately.
FederalismhasneverbeentriedinthecountrysincetheestablishmentofitsgovernmentfromthetimeofAguinaldo.Thistime,thecongressarestudyingthepossibleresultsofthisfederalisticformofgovernmentwillbefollowedandwhatwouldbethestructureofourgovernment.
Accordingtowww.RAPPLER.comtherearetwodifferentproposalsregardinghowwillbethepoliticalstructureofthecountryinfederalismformofgovernment.
Wetrytocomparethedifferencebetweenthetwoandwhicismuchbetterandsuitableforthecountry.
ThefirstonewhichwastheproposalofFormerSenatePresidentAquilino“Nene”PimentelJrcongresshavemadewhichdividesthecountryinto11regionsorstates.
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LUZON-4states(NorthernLuzon,CentralLuzon,SouthernTagalog,Bicol)
VISAYAS-4states(EasternVisayas,CentralVisayas,WesternVisayas,andMinparom,
coveringMindoroOrientalandMindoroOccidental,PalawanandtheKalayaanIslands,
Romblon,Marinduque)
MINDANAO-3states(NorthernMindanao,whichmaybesubdividedinto
NorthwesternandNortheasternMindanao;SouthernMindanao,Bangsamoro)
METROMANILA-CapitalofthefederalRepublicofthePhilippines
PRESIDENT&VICEPRESIDENT-beelectedastandemnotseparately
SENATORS-eachofthefederalstateswillelect6senatorsthatwillservesas
representativesforeachstate.Ninesenatorswillalsobeelectedoverseas.Overall,
therewillbe81senatorsinthisnewsystemofgovernment.
REPRESENTATIVES-willbeelectedperdistrict
Abicameralcongresswillstillremains.Thesearethelowerandupperhouseswhich
constituteofsenatorsandrepresentativesperdistrict.
ThefederalexecutivedepartmentwillholditsofficesinMetroManilawhilethe
legislaturewillestablishitsofficeinCentralVisayas.TheSupremeCourtandthe
proposedConstitutionalCourtwhichwilldecideonconstitutionalissueswillholdtheir
mainofficesinfederalstateofNorthernMindanao.
ThesecondproposalcamefromtheCitizens’MovementforaFederalPhilippines
(CMFP)whichalsoproposes11federalstatesbuthasadifferentversion.
Thesefederalstatesare:
1.NorthernLuzon
2.Cordillera
3.CentralLuzon
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4.MetroManila
5.SouthernLuzon
6.Bicol
7.WesternVisayas-Palawan
8.CentralandEasternVisayas
9.ZamboangaPeninsulaandNorthernMindanao
10.DavaoRegionandCentralMindanao11.Bangsamoro
Theyproposedafederal-parliamentaryformofgovernment.
CLARKSPECIALECONOMICZONEINPAMPANGA-willbethenewcapitalofthecountryandthiswillbecalledthe"NewManila."
STATE-willelectarepresentativetotheStateAssemblywhowillbecalledasassemblymenwhileinMetroManila,themayorswillconstitutetheStateAssembly.
PARLIAMENT-willbecomposedof"HouseofthePeople",and"HouseoftheStatesor
Senado"andthemembersoftheHouseofthePeoplewillbecalledtheparliaments
andwillbeelectedperparliamentarydistrict,whilethesenatorsshallbeelectedbythe
membersoftheStateAssembly(assemblymen)fromamongthemselves.The
ParliamentwillelecttheleaderofthemajoritypartyorcoalitionasthePrimeMinister.
PRIMEMINISTER-headoftheCabinet
MEMBERSOFTHECABINET-willberesponsibleforthepoliciesandprogramof
governmenttobeimplemented
PRESIDENT-headofthestateandbeelectedforatermof5years
SUPREMECOURTANDTHECOURTOFAPPEALS-judicialpower,whichwillalsohave
adivisionforthecapitalofeachstate.
CONSTITUTIONALTRIBUNAL-willalsobeputuptodecideondisputesinvolvingthe
constitutionalityofdecisionsbythefederalgovernmentandthestates
Thetwopropositionsaretrulydifferentandtheyhavetheorownstructureof
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governanceaswellasdifferentstates.Thereisonlyalittledifferencefromthecurrent
structureofgovernmentwhattheformersenatorwanttobeimplemented.Theonly
differenceisthatthesenatorswillbe81inallfromthecurrentnumberof24andthe
PresidentandtheVice-Presidentiselectedastandemnotseparately.Whilethe
proposaloftheCMFPismuchdetailedandhasaverybigdifferencetowhatthe
currentstructureofgovernmenthas.ThecapitalwillbeinPampanga.Therewillbean
StateAssemblyorBatasangEstadoswhichcomposedofrepresentativescomingfrom
differentstatesofthecountry(asinglerepresentativewillrepresentinanState
Assemblyperstate).TherewillbeaPrimeMinisterwhowillbetheheadofthecabinet
(electedbytheParliament---HouseofthePeopleandHouseoftheStates).The
Presidentwillhaveatermof5years.Therewillbeaparliamentwhichwillbe
composedofHouseoftheStatesorsenatorselectedbytheassemblymenandHouse
ofthePeoplewhichwillbecomposedofrepresentativesperparliamentarydistrict.
AfederalformofgovernmentinthePhilippineswillbelikethis:
Thequestionstobeconsiderinchangingthecurrentformofgovernmentintofederal
systemofgovernancearethefollowing:
1.Themajorpropblemofthecountrysincethefirstpresidentispoverty,willithelpyo
eradicatepovertyinthecountryorevencontributetolessenthepercentageofpoverty
experienceinthecountry?
2.Isittheroadtoeconomicprogressioninpoorerregions?
3.Willgraftandcorruptionwillbelessenornot?
NATIONALGOVERNMENT
servesasacentralgovernmentwhichfocusesmainlyonthingswhichthewholecountryneededsuchthingsonNationalDefense,
Justice,ForeignAffairsandCentralMonetaryAuthority
STATES
hasitsowngovernmentwhichonlyfocusesonlocalissuessuchason
publichealth,education,socialwelfareandservices,localindustries,safety,
transportation,andculture
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4.WillitbringpeacetoMindanao?
5.Whyshouldwetrythiskindofgovernment?
Thesearethemajorthingsthatweshouldconsiderbeforeimplementingsuchformof
governance.Waitforournextblogtohaveanideawhatwillbetheadvantagesand
disadvantagesoffederalismtothecountryandwillitbesuitabletothecountry?
References:
PhilippineHistorySecondEdition(byMariaChristineN.Halili)
MerriamWebster'sDictionary
LivioEnglishDictionary
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/139345-philippines-states-federalism
http://www.mb.com.ph/understanding-the-impact-of-federalism/#wds9EloTWGMCslKf.99
http://cnnphilippines.com/business/2016/08/03/advocates-federalism-will-help-solve-poverty.html
https://kami.com.ph/2492-federalism-philippines-explained.html
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/31/1588742/federalism-what-filipinos-need-know
http://opinion.inquirer.net/97037/promises-and-perils-of-federalism
http://www.manilatimes.net/why-switch-to-federalism/276849/
http://www.philstar.com:8080/freeman-opinion/2015/02/22/1426437/parliamentary-federal-republic-philippines
