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‘A contest for power’: Former governors raise concerns about shift to federalism

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Anjo Bagaoisan, ABS-CBN News

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">Villarama to youth: Makialam na kayo sa politika. Tutal nasa Facebook at social media na kayo, silipin niyo kami at ibulgar ang mga anomalya. <a href="https://t.co/FKUX32YlyC">pic.twitter.com/FKUX32YlyC</a>— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1048499191356383232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>​ MANILA—&quot;If federalism is the answer, what is the question?&quot; Former senator and Laguna governor Joey Lina asked this, as he and two other former provincial governors raised concerns over the practicality and effectivity of the push toward federalism embodied in proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution. At a forum by the Ateneo School of Government (moderated by ABS-CBN News anchor Christian Esguerra) on Saturday, Lina along with former governors Victor Agbayani of Pangasinan and Willie Villarama of Bulacan agreed that changing the Philippines&#x27; system of government could prove to be dangerous. &quot;I&#x27;d like to believe the president has good intentions in pushing for this,&quot; Agbayani said. &quot;There are so many ways we can improve the current system without going through the enormous process of changing the constitution.&quot; Among the actions the governors suggested were electoral reform, allotting larger budgets to the provinces, and strengthening the role of regional develpment councils. <div>BLAME THE LAW? </div>Lina said federalism would not readily address the problems it is being touted to solve, such as corruption and underdevelopment. &quot;Corruption has been there for the longest time. We have all the laws against corruption. Do we blame the law or the implementation?&quot; he said. &quot;If (the question) is corruption, implement the laws. We need God-fearing leaders, vote for them.&quot;Lina added that the Philippines has experienced both underdevelopment and growth under the unitary form of government.&quot;Were we ahead in Asia before because of the system? No, it was because of our economic strategy, because we were into manufacturing,&quot; he said. &quot;The solutions are internal to us. It&#x27;s up to us to find the solution.&quot; They commended the draft federal constitution for including a provision to ban relatives to the first and second degree from running for elected posts. But the governors agreed that it would not end political dynasties. &quot;This is not a total panacea to the overconcentration of political power for politicians. They can transport themselves elsewhere,&quot; Lina said. <div>PRACTICAL ISSUES</div>Agbayani, meanwhile, raised the possibility that responding to local crises or disasters could be slower under a federal government. There were also other practical concerns if power shifts from the provinces to a regional government. &quot;This shift is really easier in a draft than done. Where will the regional capitol be built? At what expense? What will happen to provincial employees?&quot; he asked.For Lina, regional divides might also influence local politics under the federal system, saying that provinces with bigger voting populations could consolidate numbers in regional assemblies and even allocate budgets in their favor. &quot;It&#x27;s really a contest for power,&quot; said Villarama, who highlighted the need for informing more people about the importance of the constitution. &quot;Eighty-five percent of voters are from Class D and E. If those of us who have finished higher education do not understand the proposal for federalism, how much more them?&quot; Villarama encouraged the youth, who made up most of the audience at the Ateneo, to step up and get involved. &quot;Makialam na kayo sa politika. Tutal nasa Facebook at social media na kayo, silipin niyo kami at ibulgar ang mga anomaly,&quot; he said.

Would changing the system of national government be dangerous for the country? Three former provincial governors believe it would be.

Would changing the system of national government be dangerous for the country? Three former provincial governors believe it would be.

‘A contest for power’: Former governors raise concerns about shift to federalism

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‘A contest for power’: Former governors raise concerns about shift to federalism

Anjo Bagaoisan,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 06, 2018 11:59 PM PHT

Read More:

federalism

federal government

Ateneo de Manila University

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