LAGAWE, IFUGAO– It is never too late to do something.
Already, the 19-member Consultative Committee has scheduled a regional consultation activity on June 26 at Crown Legacy Hotel in Baguio City.
This activity takes off from the inputs and sentiments aired by the people in a consultation conducted earlier in Dumaguete City in the central Visayas. For underdeveloped regions like the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), which have not been able to make substantial progress in terms of growth and development, now is certainly a good time to set in motion corresponding workable and doable plans.
More than 250 leaders in the public and private sectors are expected to gather in this all-important undertaking. Among them are supporters of the plan to shift the form of government to a federal type from the present unitary or presidential form in the upland province of Ifugao.
Under ideal circumstances, a major proposal coming from no less than the Chief Executive and backed by the ruling PDP-Laban is expected to sail smoothly, thus, is a cause of early jubilation. But circumstances are far from ideal in the case of the move advanced by President Duterte and his allies in Congress of shifting to a federal form of government. The results of an independent pollster Pulse Asia survey indicated 66% of Filipinos are not in favor of changing the form of government.
Many are now hoping that the Consultative Committee is headed to more genuine interactions with the people, most especially those in the grassroots level.
According to the national government, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) would prioritize roadshow presentations of the federalism form throughout the country.
A new charter that is rooted in addressing the longstanding problems of the citizenry is one with provisions that are clearly sound, without betraying the intent and spirit of the Filipino people.
Proponents of the federal type of government are saying that the new constitution has been envisioned on the basis of improving the manner of governance in the Philippines. They decry the dominance of the so-called “Imperial Manila” clique in allocating vital funds to towns and cities, always favoring those in the National Capital Region. The Local Government Code outlines the apportionment of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to provinces, municipalities, cities and barangays (villages). A better, more balanced IRA allocation under the federal government, advocates point out, creates an environment conducive for countryside development, particularly the underserved and remote villages. These in turn can substantially contribute to the overall growth rate in rural Philippines and the country as a whole.
They also vowed to uplift the plight of disadvantaged sectors of society, arguing that their situations have been too low on the governance priorities of current and past officials.
In a nation where about 32 affluent Filipinos control 90% of the Philippines’ wealth, the relevance of a constitution is often tied up to the officialdom’s ability to create programs that will include impoverished people in the country’s development and prosperity. Sadly, countless Filipinos are still living in abject poverty. Over the years, the vision to build a more inclusive economy for the poor and marginalized is a mere illusion. From being the second most vibrant economy in Asia before the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law in 1971, the Philippines had failed to curb poverty incidence due to corruption, abuse of power, ineptness, mismanagement and unequal distribution of wealth.
Improving the performance of the economy will be a critical challenge to the framers of the proposed constitution, in order to sustain rapid economic growth. Overall, one of the more important economic priorities for the men and women of the Consultative Committee will be to ultimately cut the high level of poverty that still persists in the Philippines, particularly in rural regions. An estimated 25.8 percent of the rural population of the country still live below the poverty line, and this ratio has only declined very gradually from a rate of 28.8 percent in 2006.
Zeroing in on a particularly well-pronounced, highly-felt poverty-stricken provinces like Ifugao, questions related on how to ease life of the poor is hard to ignore. Ifugao has been consistently among the poorest provinces in the country, with poverty incidence at above 40 percent. How would federalism ease the living conditions of poor Ifugao folks? How does federalism assure them that the days of sheer mismanagement of resources are to end when officials can’t exercise their political will?
In short, some see it as an attempt to make Filipinos proud of their government all over again.
The Consultative Committee was formed under Executive Order 10 to review the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno is the chairman, the program’s main speaker. Puno has the reputation as the most competent among federalism advocates in handling most of the issues affecting the structures of government. As a lawyer and pillar of the nation’s highest court, his pleadings and views are lucid, forceful and direct. Apart from him, other members of the Consultative Committee are in attendance. They are likely to actively take part in the presentation of the proposed constitution and answer queries during the open forum segment of the program.
The Consultative Committee’s trip to the CAR has been strategic and soul-searching, as most highlander folks have openly sought for “autonomy” status for the region. Behind this development, is the plan to put up the Federal Region/State of Northern Luzon composed of Ilocos Region, CAR and the Cagayan Valley Region.
So, it is not at all surprising to CAR folks to see and hear variants of “autonomy within the federal region” and politicians speaking their minds loudly for causes that matter, even motioning that setting aside “autonomy” is absolutely unacceptable. What charter planners do not say, however, is that a big push by President Duterte is required to have the opportunity to advance the cause of “autonomy,” in the first place. President Duterte isn’t likely to address this issue straight on.
In the event emotions remain high and calls for “autonomy” persist during the consultation, this appears to be a herculean task for the Consultative Committee. Were it not for a timetable set by the Palace, the federalism’s chief proponent and architect there, would not be bothered to be told that there is a problem and the framers are going back to the drawing board all over again. Then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte campaigned on a federalism platform in the 2016 polls.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan shall deliver the welcome remarks. DILG Regional Director Mario Iringan is to deliver the closing remarks.
Aside from securing first the nod of President Duterte and ultimately the electorate in a plebiscite on the proposed charter, the members of the Consultative Committee would also have to overcome objections interposed by critics of the federalism plan. Opponents don’t mince a word on the fact that it is not possible to reform the manner of governing the country without dismantling well-entrenched political dynasties.
It will be up to ex-Chief Justice Puno and his colleagues at the Consultative Committee to assuage this apprehension. It is truly a unique and great way to learn, understand and appreciate the advantages of having a new form of government. Better yet, the Consultative Committee is testing how impregnable is the pro-federalism camp’s position on whoever has the guts to counter its position. How is it possible for officials of a federal form of government to finally inspire, unite and lead the nation to a sustainable and progressive development? There is an ample reason to be around the activity’s venue on June 26 for an answer and not be left alone in the dark.** By Anthony A. Araos
