How the draft charter distributes power to federated regions
MANILA — The Philippines will be divided into 16 federated regions, a Bangsamoro region, and a Federated Region of the Cordilleras that will have exclusive power over certain aspects of governance under the proposed federal constitution.
The central government, meanwhile, will retain its exclusive powers over matters like defense, foreign affairs and international trade.
Under the same proposal, the governments have shared powers that are "within the relative competencies of the Federal Government and Regional Government." The governments can exercise these jointly or separately, but federal power will prevail in case of conflict.
Article XII of the draft charter lists the powers that would be exclusive for the central federal government and those that are exclusive to the federated regions.
For the Federal government: Defense, security of land, sea and air territory; Foreign affairs; International trade; Customs and tariffs; Citizenship, immigration and naturalization; National socioeconomic planning; Monetary policy and federal fiscal policy, banking, currency; Competition and competition regulation bodies.
Inter-regional infrastructure and public utilities, including telecommunications and broadband networks; Postal service; Time regulation, standards of weights and measures; Promotion and protection of human rights; Basic education.
Science and technology; Regulation and licensing of professions; Social security benefits-Federal crimes and justice system; Law and order; Civil, family, property and commercial laws, except as may be otherwise provided for in the Constitution; Prosecution of graft and corruption cases; Intellectual property; and Elections.
For the Federated region: Socio-economic development and planning; Creation of sources of revenue; Financial administration and management; Tourism, investment and trade development; Infrastructure, public utilities and public works; Economic zones; and use and housing Justice system; and Local government units.
Under the Local Government Code, barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces exercise certain powers and responsibilities devolved from the national government, among them the provision of basic services and facilities.
Local governments also currently have the power "to create their own sources of revenues and to levy taxes, fees, and charges which shall accrue exclusively for their use and disposition and which shall be retained by them."
They can also "negotiate and secure financial grants or donations in kind, in support of the basic services or facilities."
In the existing Local Government Code, the president exercises general supervision over local government units. In the proposed federal constitution, however, the president will only have control over executive departments, bureaus and offices.
The president will also have the executive power of the Federal Republic. The president and vice president will be elected as a team and will both have a term of for years. Both will be eligible for reelection to one term.
The president will have control over all executive departments, bureaus and offices under the federal government. The chief executive will also be the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.—