Is the Philippines ready for Federalism? Senator Pimentel has introduced Senate Resolution No. 10 which envisioned the creation of 11 federal states. I am personally for federalism but I think all Filipinos should also be consulted as to whether they are in favor of it. It is not a perfect form of government so I think there should be consultations and information dissemination in the community level so that the people can make their choice.
The 11 federal states to be created would be: Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Minparom(Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon), Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and the State of Bangsamoro.
The decentralization of power will hopefully bring the much-needed development to the Philippine countryside. Local leaders will now have more access to local resources whereas in the current system, those who are close to the administration are favored with the use of the country’s resources. The proponents also hoped that this system of government will be the solution to the insurgency problem especially in Mindanao. I personally doubt this last sentence but let’s not close our doors to federalism.
It’s not the answer to all our woes but I think the federal system will be less prone to abuse. Although, it is still the kind of people in position who will determines the fate of a province or region. No matter what kind of system we have if the politicians who will be in position are corrupt, you will still get a corrupt government. If the move for Charter Change is just a ploy to make something unconstitutional like the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity legal then we should be greatly concerned. Let’s all be vigilant since a Charter Change may be used by those in power for their own selfish advantage.
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@don_ser – para namang USB ang tunog nya. Well, we are hoping that if we will use federalism, we will become more independent in using our own resources. Hala, pakibasa nga nito bata ka. Dami mo ngang tanong. Lecture-an na lang kita in exchange for SEO.
@ChiQ – Yeah tama ka dun. That should also be taken into consideration. Sadly, most of the poor regions in the country are in Minadanao, especially those where there are insurgencies.
@gladita, wahaha..sabaran ka sakon aw??? thanks sa link. bukas ko na babasahin. masakit mata koh. hehe.
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SEO??? ano ba yung SEO? anung mangyayari sa mga tao kapag ipapatupad yang SEO na yan?? anu maganda maidulot satin nyan?? hehehe. joke joke lang…
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Sometimes we think about that but to make speedy development in poor parts of our country this is the good way. It is not mean that the poor parts will be left alone with there own.That’s why state will be made so that they can concentrate more into there respective undeveloped places on respective provinces.Wherein tax being payed to certain state will have a greater share unlike to the current system that we have, that all tax that being payed will be remitted to center of our country if I’m not mistaken.So if a state will be form with that greater share of tax being payed the respective state will have a big chance to develop there own provinces and there is greater chances of competitiveness in all state regrading in economics and tourism.Insurgencies is not factors on this, before this bill has been open to the public we have lot on insurgencies in our country.Not only in Mindanao this insurgencies has been battling our country for 40yrs this is halting all development in our country cause we don’t have a common goal in our country.They say if you being halted by trouble just isolate it and eliminate it or it will cause to much trouble.:D
Cebu is for Federalism, as it is advantageous to the province. But I’m worried about the other poorer regions.
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i don’t really wanna sound cynical at all but with the kind of leaders(?) we have, federalism will just change the system but not the way of living of pinoys.
got here via some links in my blogger friends so i decided to pay a visit. i really enjoyed reading your posts and i’ll be back here. have a nice day.
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@Lawstude – Deep down inside me I’m afraid of that. A wolf in lamb’s clothes is still a wolf. Anyway, thanks and I’ve linked up your blog.
with our culture, it might be difficult to shift to federal govt.
kwans last blog post..babay hello telepon
diba a change of opradigm could create a butterfly effect?
what about that?
i difinetily agree with the federalism…because its time to make a change..its time to prove that we can stand by it, who knows baka yan lang ang paraan para magkaroon naman ng pag-asa ang pinas na umunlad dba? dapat look forward for the good future! hehehe
hinei pa nga natin natatry yung federal ststem sumsang-ayo na kayo
federalism is HOPE to many Filipinos and fear to some but its worth the try. We just have to be open to change rather than stagnate.
Many or most of the suggested states are artificial and do not reflect cultural or historical realities. Central Luzon, for instance, is an artificial entity to which no one would owe loyalty. The Tagalog and Ilocano portions should be transferred to their respective states, while the Kapampangan portion, 27% of the population, should be constituted into a separate state. According to Dr. Rene Azurin:“But, of the proposed eleven (or so) federal states, no more than a few – like the Cebuano state or the Pampangueno-Tarlaqueno state – would actually be able to stand on their own financially.”
(Azurin, Rene. On Decentralizing Government, p. 5. Paper presented at the Dialogues on Federalism. Center for Local and Regional Governance, NCPAG, UP Diliman, Quezon City, 3 August 2007. Originally published in the book Stationary Bandits: Essays in Political Power, also by Dr. Azurin. Platypus Press, 2007).
The Kapampangan Region has a sufficiently large area and population to become a region or federal state. Kapampangan-majority areas – Pampanga province, plus the highly urbanized city of Angeles, the Tarlac towns of Bamban, Capas and Concepcion, and the city of Tarlac – together registered a population of 2,398,144 in 2000 (it would be even larger if historically Kapampangan areas, like adjoining areas of Bataan and Nueva Ecija where Kapampangan is still spoken, are included). This is larger than that of the Cordillera and Caraga regions (1,365,412 and 2,095,367, respectively, in 2000) and nearly as large as that of the ARMM (2,412,159 in 2000). Its area (3,424.68 sq km) is much bigger than that of Metro Manila (636 sq km), a separate region and a proposed autonomous entity in a federal system. Moreover, it is larger in area and population than at least 26 independent countries, including Barbados, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius and Seychelles, and in population than another 26 including Brunei, Cyprus, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Guyana and Swaziland. It is larger in area than both Singapore and the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.
Of the eight major language groups, only Kapampangans and Pangasinenses do not have regions of their own, and consequently, only the two have not been given separate states in most proposals for federalization.
Come to think, almost all the rich countries are federal.
In a country as diverse as the Philippines, a federal form of government is definitely ideal.
Are we ready for federalism? You bet we are!
Nice exchanges. It only shows that many Filipinos are already aware of the advantages and disadvantages of federalism. Many are also hopeful that it will bring out the best in us. some are not sure, and the author is not also sure if it would work for Mindanao.
Kun ang pamangkoton mo mga taga mindanao, most will tell you that they are for federalism. Damo tana kwarta and Mindanao, galing gina umum lang sang Metro Mania.
I think Philippines is ready to federalize, unfortunately, Metro Manila is not.
I go for FED, like here in Germany…ganda ng sestima nila…
Federalism in the philippines is acceptable, only in the aspect of our geopolitics. However, we fail to attain long lasting political and economic stability, we fall short in our oneness as a nation, we are unable to foster deep nationalism and patriotism.Furthermore, as we engender foreign dogmas and principles, we cut across the spirit of our sovereignty.Thus,no form of government can withstand this nation, if we move forward with backwardness.
Ganda ni promdiblogger… hehehe.. As a student of political science, i respond to the need of this state by adopting a socialist form of government of which this nation will someday be known as the Socialist Republic of the Philippines. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas
@Habeas – I totally agree in the points you have raised especially this one – “Ganda ni promdiblogger”.
Kidding aside, I think our real and immediate problem is corruption and it seems to me that the people are too tired to clamor for change since the same thing happens everytime there’s a change in leadership. It’s a cycle of recycled politicians. But socialist republic? I’m sort of skeptical if this can really work for us and I’m not for it. And to tell you frankly, kinakabahan ako sa word na socialist. 
bago, natin baguhin ang form of government natin, dapat we are economically stable. dahil kapag hinati na ang philippines sa 11 states, financially hindi na tayo masusuportahan ng gobyerno.,
at saka yung mga senators for life n daw silang mauupo sa kanilang place, unless they die (knock on the wood), or they resign.,
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