EDITORIAL:

Enforcing Federalism: An Access for Change

President Rodrigo Duterte’s following task is to execute another form of controlling the
administration of authorities under the new constitution, a change in the system of government
that will divide the power in equal portion and combining the national government and regional
or subdivisional government in a single unit of a political system, the FEDERALISM.
Under the federalism is that both government will act for service in accordance with their
officials and laws. This constitution aims to undertake responsibilities over developing local
infrastructures, local industries, public health and safety, education, securities, transportation and
culture, and it also includes the taxation and issuance of licenses.
The visible factors of proposing this constitution are said to be the undying crisis in the
Philippines. Lasting problems on corruption and the dirty management of the officials and
employees, this concludes to proposing the federalism with a thought of solving the problem.
Federalism will carry financial independence,specialization, and distribution of wealth
to the local and national government, in terms of economic aspect. Regions which are dependent
on the national government for their support sustenance will now survive on their own.
Meanwhile, there will be an ethnocentric system in a whole nation wherein it will lead to the
degradation of national unity.
Duterte has already signed the blueprint. In contrary, the Philippine Congress is incapable
to have obligations on its current form. Therefore, this draft is more likely a reference point
rather than a final constitution of a new constitution, which most constituents should approve in a
future referendum.
There were some related controversies about the new constitution of Federalism, the
video of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, a jingle and dance
video of promoting Federalism. But this issue conveys a lot of criticisms from the members of
Consultative Communication, and Con-Com member Father Ranhilio Aquino perceives the
video as “inappropriate” and “vulgar” for promoting the proposed constitution to people.
United States, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, and Brazil are
countries that administrate Federalism. These countries are in lines of progressive nations.
Federalism in the U.S brought merits in many aspects. This promotes the policy innovation and
political system of participation and this also administer the dissimilarity of opinions. Another
satisfactions federal system has, is that it creates collaboration between the two levels of
government and joint actions for the improvement of their nation. Thus, they tend to help and
support each level in terms of making new policies and citizens, group of officials, and social
movement is detemined to participate along with the progression of their country.

-Jheremy Soriano