MINDANAO LEADER'S SUMMIT ON FEDERALISM

By Manny Piñol

Former CDeO Mayor Reuben Canoy

Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte and over 300 delegates from all over the country today pushed for a Federal form of government saying this could address the problems confronting governance in the Philippines.

Duterte declared his support for a Federal form of government for the Philippines during the one-day 1st Mindanao Leaders Federalism Summit held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City today.

Citing the inequitable distribution of wealth and resources and the massive corruption in the Central Government, Duterte said the time is right for a shift from a Unitary Presidential form to a Federal Parliamentary system.

He said it will also provide a sustainable and long-lasting solution to the Bangsamoro problem in the Southern Philippines which he said could collapse in view of what he feared as rough sailing in the Supreme Court where the Bangsamoro Basic Law could be scrutinized for Constitutional inconsistencies.

Bukidnon Gov. Joe Zubiri, Zambales Gov. Jun Ebdane, Cong. Bebot Bello, Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla, former Presidential Peace Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, former Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmena, Anti-crime crusader Dante Jimenez, representatives of both the MNLF and MILF, and other delegates supported the Federalism advocacy which was presented by former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Reuben Canoy.

Cor Jesu College of Law Dean and former Integrated Bar of the Philippines lawyer Israelito Torreon explained that the Federal form of government could only be implemented in the Philippines through the revision of the Constitution.

Delegates from all over the country, including a delegation from Bicol led by Bicol Autonomy advocacy Dante Jimenez, also voiced their support for the shirt to a Federal form of government.

Former Press Secretary Jess Dureza emphasized during the synthesis he presented said that the delegates agreed the next President of the country should be involved in the advocacy to establish a Federal form of government in the country.

Duterte is the only presidential material, among the six or seven names consistently mentioned as possible presidential materials, who carry the Federalism advocacy.

At the end of the Summit, Duterte and the other delegates signed the Manifesto of Support for the Federalism Advocacy.

The Federalism secretariat head Mayor Jun Ebasco of Maribojoc, Bohol said there will be other Federalism meetings in other parts of the country.

(Photos show Philippine Federalism advocate former Mayor Reuben Canoy and Party List Cong. Silvestre Bello III.)

source:  MannyPiñol.com FB

BIGGEST FEDERALISM MEET SET IN DAVAO CITY MONDAY

By Manny Pinol

The advocacy to decentralize governance by creating Federal States in the different regions of the Philippines takes a giant leap Monday, Dec. 1, when several big names in the country's political, social, religious, civic and ethnic groups will meet for a Federalism Summit at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City.

Among those expected to attend Monday are former President Fidel V. Ramos, former Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmena, Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Ateneo de Davao President Fr. Joel Tabora and several incumbent Governors, Mayors and Congressmen from all over the country.

Bangsamoro and Tribal leaders along with representatives of Left-leaning groups are also expected to be present including members of the academe who will serve as reactors.

Unlike the unitary form of government which the country has now, the Federal system of government calls for the creation of states all over the country which will be defined not only by geographical boundaries but also cultural and socio-political commonalities.

While there are already two autonomous regions in the country, namely the Cordillera Autonomous Region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the governance powers have largely been limited and decision making, especially budgeting, is still made in Metro Manila.

The foremost example of a federal system of government is the United States of America which is composed of 50 States headed by State Governors with their own legislature, Supreme Court and State Police.

Each State, while covered by the American Constitution, could enact laws which are only applicable in their territory, the example of which is the passage of the law allowing same-sex marriage in several states while conservative states have rejected it.

The advocacy for Federalism recently gained more support following the discovery of massive misuse of government funds by national government officials highlighted by the Napoles Pork Barrel Scam and the Malampaya Gas Fund Anomaly.

The inequitable distribution and sharing of the national wealth and resource have also contributed to the growing demand to decentralize governance.

The one-day Federalism Summit will end with Davao City Mayor Duterte, one of the prime movers of the Federalism movement, delivering a keynote speech in the afternoon.