Palace ready to engage Filipinos on federalism

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said it is ready to engage with the public on federalism after a Pulse Asia survey showed that four in every ten Filipinos oppose charter change.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said it is now an “auspicious time” to review the 1987 Constitution considering that the poll had also revealed that 77 percent of Filipinos have little knowledge of the issue.

“There is much more to be learned about the system, but the campaign to change toward federalism shall be intensified,” Andanar said in a statement.   

“We are ready for debates, discussions, arguments,” he added.

Andanar said federalism would allow regions to benefit from their own resources and would ensure more equitable distribution of funds between the national and local government.

“Ultimately we want our people to consider the greater possibilities to make change an inclusive experience when resources are distributed more democratically,” he added.

The Pulse Asia survey released early this week showed that 44 percent of Filipinos are against charter change while 37 percent support it. Nearly two in every ten Filipinos or 19 percent are undecided on the issue. The nationwide poll had 1,200 respondents and used a margin of error of ± 3 percent.  

Previous efforts to amend the decades-old constitution were viewed as attempts to extend the term limits of officials.

Duterte, the first president from Mindanao, is pushing for amendments to the charter to change the form of government from unitary to federal. He believes federalism would promote development in the countryside and address the poverty and violence hounding Mindanao.

The federal set-up will establish states with the power to enact their own laws and regulations. National citizenship, currency, national defense and foreign affairs, however, will still be handled by the national government.

Duterte previously said he prefers to amend the charter through a constituent assembly, wherein lawmakers would propose changes to the constitution.