AS THE campaign for the federal form of government continues nationwide, people should be able to know more about its advantages and disadvantages according to a member of the academe in Baguio City.
Political Science professor Ferdinand Lawan said all discussions in the media, forum, and school should be able to contextualize the feature of a federal form of government in the Philippine setting.
According to him, factors which include the political culture, geography, and demographic variables of the country should be considered because these will determine the suitability and appropriateness of such form of government in the country.
Furthermore, he said that Filipinos should understand the implications and ramifications of changing the nation’s form of government from unitary to federal as this will not only involve substantial modification of the political structure and processes of the country but has great implications as well to every adult citizens of the country particularly on the aspect of employment salaries, taxation, social securities, and distribution of goods and services.
A federal form of government he said is characterized by a minimal control and supervision of the National Government on the local political affairs of the local government units (LGUs). This means that the LGUs or states are autonomous in their relation to the National Government. (In the US, they call the National Government as the Federal Government.)
Each state or local government unit formulates and implements its own laws, policies, programs independent of the other states guided by general principles provided in the constitution. The political power is decentralized which is different from a unitary form of government which is centralized like the present state of government.
The government’s effort to reach out to different sectors of the society to promote the said form of government is very important as it enlighten the people about its necessities and importance.
In Baguio City, from the academe, discussion on federalism was also presented by the Liga ng mga Barangay of Manila to the village officials in the city on May 29 at the Crown Legacy Hotel with the participation of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
May there be more dialogue and talks for the said matter which will involve all sectors to further understand the importance of the campaign.
Changing the present form of government to federalism is one of the priorities of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. The Congress is also doing its part to fast track the approval of federalism.
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