FEDERALISM

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Only federalism will lasting peace, says Duterte

President Duterte on Tuesday reiterated that only a federal form of government could
bring lasting peace to the entire country and the strife-torn Mindanao.

But the President unequivocally opposed suggestions that the proposed new
Bangsamoro political entity be allowed to have its own security forces.

“They (Moro leaders) repeated it before me that they would want some kind of
regional armed forces and police. That’s something I cannot give. Those are the things
that cannot be negotiated,” the Chief Executive said at the opening of a drug
rehabilitation center in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

As President, he said he should “not concede more than what you can really give.”

“They want a federal type of presidency, fine. But the control of the police and the
military shall always be in the hands of the President,” he stressed.

Mr. Duterte’s victory in the May elections as the country’s first President from
Mindanao had brought hope to the Moro rebels’ struggle to govern their own
homeland and end the decades-old war.

Leaders of both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) had expressed optimism that the President’s political will
would lead to the creation of a new political body in Muslim-dominated areas in
Mindanao.

In his speech, the President maintained that only a federal system of government
would be the answer to end the secessionist wars in southern Philippines.

“Let me remind you again. Per my observation, we cannot have a peaceful country…if
you do not agree to a federal setup,” he said.

“For me, I don’t want to force the people. For me, it’s good if you don’t want it. I am
just a Filipino. For as long as you do not bother me, fine. But the problem is in
Mindanao and the Moro people will go for it at all costs,” he added.

Mr. Duterte said the campaign for the establishment of a Bangsamoro political body
was “Moro nationalism…at work.” (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/849221/only-
federalism-will-bring-lasting-peace-says-duterte/amp).
Reaction:

When I read this article, there is one question that pops out inside my mind. Is
Federalism a good thing? I asked myself but I think federalism is both good and bad.
Honestly speaking, it is now a big issue in our country because some Filipinos doesn’t
want it but, we must consider the fact that federalism does not really have any content
beyond ideas such as having clear lines of separation between the state and the federal
government, or dual power. The truth is that federalism is as federalism does, and only
the details of any federalism project can reveal its many practical meanings.

It is good for our country because I believe there are some of the possible benefits of
adopting a federal government for the Philippines. The first one I think, local
governments can decide for themselves because in federalism is allowed to create
solutions to their own problems, implement policies for their improvement, and make
decisions for their own good without having to ask Malacañang for their decision.
Second one is that local governments have more power over their resources because
they are allowed to use the majority of their funds for their own development and
without needing a go signal from Malacañang. That’s all what I think it’s right.

According to my research, here are the following disadvantages of fideralism; (1) It

can lead to duplication of government and inefficient, over-lapping or contradictory
policies in different parts of the country. (2) It can lead to inequality between the states
and lead to unhealthy competition and rivalry between them. (3) It cal lead to over-
government that will result to corruption. I have cited both faces of federal government
in order to inform all of you that federal government is a good system of government
and a good example of successful federal kind of government is the UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.. But the question here is do we really need it? DO YOU EVER BELIEVE
THAT ONLY FEDERALISM WILL BRING LASTING PEACE? Is it advisable for our
country to change the government into federal?

So, let love and loyalty for our country arise above all so we can march towards the
future and hopes making a peaceful country. We do not need here a change of
government all we need is to strengthen the centralized government. And also it’s very
expensive to have a federal kind of government. We have no enough funds because we
are still paying our debts. We have already LGU’S and NGO’S to monitor the needs of
people that have a power equal to the national government. We are making our situation
complicated if we change our present government into federal. Lastly, the Philippines is
a third world country and according to survey last September 16, 2006 we have 25 only
of the world’s 193 countries have federal political system, and 3 out of 25 is belong in
Asia. It only indicates that a third world country like us is not ready and cannot afford
the federal government.