DSA sponsors forum on federal system of gov’t

FEDERALISM --- MSU - Maguindanao Graduate School Prof. Maguid Macalingkang speaks before participants during a forum on “Federal Form of Government” sponsored by the local government of Datu Saudi Ampatuan. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- The local government of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao conducted a forum on the Federal Form of Government held at the municipal grounds last February 9.

Municipal Administrator Mastura S. Tapa said the forum was attended by the  department heads and local officials of the town.

“It is important that even at this early time, people from the ground would be able to understand what federalism is and what are the inclusive details under a federal form of government,” he said.

Tapa said federalism guarantees expanded powers for LGUs affording them with the authority and resources to enhance local development and efficient delivery of social services.

“We are doing this since federalism is being pushed by our President, Rodrigo Duterte, to address insurgency, inequitable distribution of national wealth, and graft and corruption,” he said.

Maguid Macalingkang, a professor of Mindanao State University - Maguindanao Graduate School, was the forum speaker who discussed the features of a federal form of government which is proposed to replace the unitary system through Constitutional amendmends.

He said that former Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. has long been pushing for this type of government.

“We should deeply understand it. In federalism, there will be sharing of power, responsibility, and sovereignty in the two types of government or structure --- the Central Government and the Federal States or Regional States,” he said.

Under the federal system, every state can collect its own taxes, enjoys autonomy, has the power to initiate projects deemed good for the welfare of the people, and has the power to make its own laws. But there will only be one Armed Forces of the Philippines, Central Bank, educational system, foreign policy, monetary system, and Philippine Flag.

Under the proposed system, 12 federal states would be formed which are the former administrative regions. Metro Manila will be the Federal Administrative Region. There will be four federal states in the Visayas and the Federal State of Eastern Visayas with Catbalogan City as its proposed capital.

Here in Mindanao, there will be three federal states. The group of former senator Pimentel and PDP Laban has long been pushing that the president and the vice president be chosen as a team, that  they be elected as tandem.

Further, there will also be a change in the qualifications of the two highest officials, who should be degree holders or  college graduates. In the Federal Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives will remain.

There will also be State Senators who should at least be college graduates. The present sitting 24 senators would become 81. Every federal state will have one governor and vice governor. The state legislators will be unicameral in every federal state.

In the federal system, the Supreme Court and its powers will remain.

The local government units will stand intact and their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) will increase. The revenues earned by the government will be divided --- 20 percvent for the Federal or Central Government and 80 percent for Federal States.

Poor regional states can avail of the so-called equalization fund that will be administered by the Central Government in order to help these states aside from having a Loan Commission.

Even before President Duterte’s directive for the Department of the Interior and Local Government to launch an information drive on federalism, the DILG has already jump started its info campaign with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the People’s National Movement for Federalism, a private sector which advocates the shift to a federal form of government. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)