Federalism in the Philippines

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Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini intended the Philippines to be divided into three federal states, Luzon,
the Visayas and Mindanao.

Federalism in the Philippines (Filipino: Pederalismo sa Pilipinas) is a proposed form of government in the
country. Filipino national heroes Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini were the first to suggest dividing
the islands into three federal states.

History
Philippines

This article is part of a series on the

politics and government of
the Philippines

One of the first proponents of federalism in the Philippines is University of the Philippines professor Jose
Abueva who argued that a federal form of government is necessary to more efficiently cater to the needs of the
country despite its diversity. The primary goals of a constitutional amendment is to increase decentralization,
greater local power and access to resources most especially among regions outside Metro Manila which has
long been dubbed as rather imperial. Aside from Abueva, senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. is a prominent
supporter of federalism who, since 2001, has advocated for federalism. He sees the proposed system as a key
component in alleviating the Mindanao crisis and appeasing Moro insurgents. Federalism will also hasten
economic development since resource and financial mobilization is upon each states' or provinces' discretion
without significant constraint from the central government.
Due to the Senate and Congress resolutions supporting charter change, an estimated 13,000 to 15,000 people
gathered in Makati in 2009 to protest against administration proposals for constitutional reform. This was in
line with speculations that Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would use such amendment to
extend her hold in office. In addition, Pulse Asia published in the same year their survey regarding public
support towards the proposed charter change. Their report stated that four out of ten Filipino adults or 42% of
all respondents opposed the amendment. Meanwhile, 25% were still undecided and 33% were in favor. Pulse
Asia furthered that from 2006 to 2009, there was no significant change of sentiment against charter change, but
indecision increased by 6%.
Beginning in late 2014, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte launched a nationwide campaign promoting a
charter change for federalism. During his visit to Cebu City in October of the same year, Duterte stated that
federalism will facilitate better delivery of services to the people. He also saw the current system as
"antiquated" where distribution of public funds is disproportionately biased towards Manila. Aside from the
economic aspect, federalism is also seen as the best means to address problems in Mindanao which suffers the
most from ethnoreligious conflicts. He added that the current unitary form of government has not worked well
given the ethnic diversity in the country. In spite of rejecting several calls for candidacy for the 2016
presidential elections, he also cited his reforms if he were to be president. Parallel to his campaign for
federalism, Duterte plans to privatize tax collection and abolish the Congress to make way for a unicameral
legislature, whereby the latter is contrary to the originally proposed Joint Resolution No. 10.
Movements for federalism were further intensified since the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law was submitted
by Philippine president Benigno Aquino III to the Congress in September 10, 2014. If approved, this law
establishes the Bangsamoro as an autonomous region with its own parliamentary government and police
force. Approval of the Bangsamoro structure provides federalism proponents and supporters added confidence
to clamor for the national government to enact reforms towards a more decentralized system for the rest of the
country.
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte stated in May 2016 that a plebiscite on the proposed replacement of the
unitary state with a federal one will be held in two years. On December 7, 2016, Duterte signed Executive
Order No. 10 creating a consultative committee to review the 1987 Constitution.

Failed attempts
Joint Resolution No. 10
The resolution might have required the revision of 14 of the 18 Articles of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
and the addition of two new articles. It sought to adopt a federalpresidential bicameral form of government.
This proposed resolution was backed by 12 senators of the Philippines: (Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., Edgardo
Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Pia "Companera" Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Jinggoy
Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Manuel "Manny"
Villar)
In 2008, senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. proposed Joint Resolution No. 10, which would revise the current 1987
constitution and have created eleven autonomous regions out of the Philippine Republic, establishing eleven
centers of finance and development in the archipelago.
The proposal would result in the creation of eleven "states" and one federal administrative region.
 Proposed designations, capitals, and
geographic extents[17]
Letter State Capital
Federal
Administrative Metro
M
Region of Manila
Metro Manila
A Northern Luzon Tuguegarao
B Central Luzon Tarlac City
Southern
C Tagaytay
Tagalog
D Minparom Mamburao
E Bicol Legazpi
F Eastern Visayas Catbalogan
G Central Visayas Toledo
Western
H Iloilo City
Visayas
Northern Cagayan de
I
Mindanao Oro
Southern
J Davao City
Mindanao
K BangsaMoro Marawi

Within the joint resolution are certain proposals such as election of senators based on states, senators
representing overseas voters and the state governor and vice-governor as one team. The Judicial and Bar
Councilwhich screens nominees to the judiciary would be abolished. Geographic locations of the three
branches of the government would also be reconsidered. In the proposal, the legislative department would be
transferred to what would become the State of Central Visayas while the judicial department would be moved
somewhere within the State of Northern Luzon. The executive department would remain within the federal
administrative region of Metro Manila.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 15

Rep. Monico O. Puentevella on May 7, 2008, filed House Concurrent Resolution No. 15 which supported
Senate Resolution No. 10 backed by 16 senators. Unlike the Nene Pimentel Senate Resolution, Puentevella
included the option of holding a constitutional convention, but excluded the People's Initiative mode.] Prospero
Nograles, a self-proclaimed advocate of federalism, on May 1, 2008, announced: "This federal system of
government is close to my heart as a Mindanaoan leader and I'm sure most of the leaders in Mindanao will
agree that we have long clamored for it. Senate Resolution 10 is a pleasant surprise because the Senate has a
long history of opposing any move to amend the Constitution." The joint Senate resolution called for the
creation of 11 federal states in the country, by convening of Congress into a constituent assembly for the
purpose of revising the Constitution to establish a federal system of government.
Proposed designations and capitals
Code State (Existing Region) Capital
 Proposed designations and capitals
Code State (Existing Region) Capital
NC National Capital (NCR) Manila
NL Northern Luzon (R1, R2 & CAR) Tuguegarao
CL Central Luzon (R3) Angeles
SL Southern Luzon (R4A & R5) Batangas City
WV Western Visayas (R4B & R6) Puerto Princesa
CV Central Visayas (R7 & NIR) Cebu City
EV Eastern Visayas (R8) Tacloban
NM Northern Mindanao (R10 & R13) Cagayan de Oro
WM Western Mindanao (R9) Zamboanga City
SM Southern Mindanao (R11 & R12) Davao City
MM Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Marawi

2016 Revision on Federalism

During the North Luzon Federalism Summit, former Senate President Aquilino Pimintel Sr. expressed that the
Cordilleras should have a separate federal state from North Luzon since the people of the Cordillera have been
fighting for it for many years and it is also within the current Constitution to give autonomy to the Cordilleras.
He also made the same pronouncements during a live interview with Karen Davila. With those declarations,
the official federal states rose to 12, plus the capital state of Metro Manila.

Proposed designations and capitals

Code State (Existing Region) Capital
Baguio
CM Cordillera Mountains (CAR)