Con-com urged to assure a strong, sturdy federalism model
MANILA — Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, chair of the consultative committee (Con-com) to review the 1987 Constitution, on Monday convened the first session of the Con-com at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
“I urge you to ensure that our federal government will be a strong and sturdy one, possessed with the power to hold together the union in perpetuity and with the energy and the endurance to convert to robust reality the dreams of our people, however long it takes,” Puno sai d.
He urged the Concom to devote serious thought on the “architectural design” of the proposed federalism form of government, noting that the design will be to determine the structure of government of the federation.
“Devote the most serious thought on the architectural design of our Federal Constitution before we digress to its details,” Puno said.
Puno also explained that although there were different models of this structure available worldwide, he encouraged the Con-com not to plagiarize and instead create one that would fit the Philippines.
”We should not plagiarize any federal model, for our model should be distinctly Filipino as it cannot be impassive to our past and indifferent to the present,” Puno said.
Cooperative federalism’
Puno, meanwhile stressed that the proposed federalism model should be “cooperative” and “not competitive” noting that many regions will encounter difficult problems to become viable states.
“Some regions will be ready to take full steps to federalism; others will be able to take only baby steps and will need a lot of handholding,” Puno said.
“It ought to be selfevident that the regime that should govern their relationship is what is known as cooperative federalism as opposed to competitive federalism,” he added.
He also pointed out that cooperative federalism should be co-active and that collaborative efforts of each state is to achieve the common goal .
Hot debates
Puno said that he expected debates on the review of the 1987 Constitution to be “hot” but not reach “boiling poi nt .”
“While some of our viewpoints may differ by a mile and not just millimeters, I am confident that at the end of the day, our labor of love will bring forth a Constitution our sovereign people deserve,” Puno said.
Puno noted that it was none other than national hero Jose Rizal who first floated the “federalist idea” as best suited for the Philippines but noted that his dream did not make p r ogr ess.