Go: Duterte

reaching out to the public across the country with hopes to increase awareness about the federal system of government among Filipinos.

“N as a Kong re son a ho ito. Med yo long shot ngahoito.Kasi po ala mniy om a tag aln aka ming umiko tn gP angu lo about sa Federalism 2015 pa hang gang 2016 at al am na man nat inn aangp in aka import ante mai pa paint in di sam ga tao,sa bay an, kunganoi ton g peder al is mo [It’s now in Congress. It’s a long shot. Because you know we have long been going around from 2015 to 2016 to raise public awareness about federalism. And we all know what’s important here is how are we going to explain to the people, the nation, what really federalism is],” Go said.

“‘Yungmagiging awareness nito. Ka si um iikotk amino on, hindi si la mas ya dong na ki kinig about federalism. Pi nap akingg ann ila‘yun gP angu lo[ The people’ s awareness about it. Because when we’re going around, the people did not really listen when we talked about federalism. But they listened to the President],” he added.

Duterte has been pushing for a federal government, saying it would decentralize the government and would empower the regions more.

Last month, the Consultative

Committee (ConCom) submitted to Duterte the “Bayanihan Federalism,” which installs a federal government strong enough to glue the various federated regions and make them socially, economically and politically viable and sustainable.

A recent survey, however, showed that Charter change and federalism remain unpopular among Filipinos.

A Pulse Asia poll conducted last June suggested that 67 percent of Filipinos are not in favor of amending the 1987 Constitution while 62 percent are against the proposed shift to a federal system of government.

Malacañang has admitted that much work has to be done to spread awareness on Charter change.

In a recent interview, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the information campaign for federalism would start this month and would involve the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Presidential Communications “The roadshow for federalism will commence this month of August. Ka sam apo‘yung mg a mate ry a les na ginawang DILG [This will include the materials created by the DILG], in coordination with academics, ‘yung mgamiyem brodinng Consultative Committee [and members of the ConCom],” Roque said.

But Sen. Grace Poe, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass media, has

into the funding of the information campaign to be spearheaded by the Presidential Communications ConCom that drafted the proposed federal Constitution.

Poe cited in her Senate Resolution 821 the controversial and risqué video of PCOO Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson that she said “reeks of impropriety” does not help “elevate public discourse” on the government’s effort to explain federalism.

Uson earlier defended her video, saying it was meant to get Filipinos to talk about federalism.

But ConCom spokesman Ding Generoso said the video was not part of their information drive for federalism.

In his State of the Nation Address Constitution, saying it would “truly embody the ideals and aspirations” of all Filipinos and create opportunities for growth.

people will stand behind us as we introduce this new fundamental law that will not only strengthen our democratic institutions, but will also create an environment where every Filipino, regardless of social status, religion, or ideology, will have an equal opportunity to grow and create a future that he or she can proudly bequeath to the succeeding generations,” the President said.