MANILA -- Malacañang has created an inter-agency body tasked with "integrating, harmonizing, and coordinating efforts" to promote federalism and constitutional reform, according to an official document released Monday.

Memorandum Circular 62 cited the need for a public information drive at the grassroots level to raise public awareness on the issue and ensure the "widest public participation" in initiatives to change the charter.

The body will be chaired by the interior secretary with the justice secretary as co-chair, according to the memorandum, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

"Constant consultations with all sectors of society is essential in every stage of the process of constitutional reform so that all such efforts towards reform will embody the sovereign will and reflect the ideals and aspirations of our people," the order read.

President Rodrigo Duterte, the first president from Mindanao, has advocated for federalism to help spread wealth and political power that had long been concentrated in Manila.

A consultative committee headed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno submitted to Duterte a draft federal constitution last July.

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According to the memorandum, the inter-agency body will develop strategies to raise public awareness on federalism, prepare an information dissemination plan and undertake consultations with the former members of the consultative committee, government agencies, the private sector and the public.

The task force will also liaise with Congress to address roadblocks to constitutional reform and perform such other functions as the President may direct, according to the memorandum.

All government agencies, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, are directed to coordinated with the task force before conducting any activity involving federalism and constitutional reform, it said.