The return of federalism with Duterte

For me, federalism appeared in the Philippines in 2005 when a group of Filipino politicians were invited to the Forum of Federations in Brussels, Belgium. I was one of them because I wrote several columns. But these were meant to ask questions rather than give answers.

It is well known that there are more than 25 countries in the world today that have federal systems of government. That means more than 40 percent of the world are governed by a federal system in one form or another. Together they represent 40 percent of the world’s population. These include some of the largest and most complex democracies – India, the USA, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and Canada. But of these countries the most successful is Switzerland.

Federalism is a concept and a system of government. It means different things to different peoples. I began to accept it when federalists explained to me that as a concept it should be understood as freedom. It poses problems when it is defined as a system of government because it divides countries to ethnic, political or religious groups. Many will tell you it is not possible. Precisely because of these differences.

And yet, historically, most federations have come together as separate entities. A good example are the 13 colonies in North America or the 26 cantons of Switzerland that came together to form federal government. That means “retaining some powers to themselves, but pooling others with the central government.”

There are also unitary countries – such as Spain, Belgium and South Africa that have adopted federal structures. These maintain a common central government for some purposes while empowering regional governments for other purposes. In many diverse societies, a federal system of government permits recognition of diversities of language, culture, religion and ethnicity and unity of common interests and purpose. It would be the solution to Muslim Mindanao and Christian Luzon that came about because of Western colonization.

Because of our globalizing world, federalism is seen as the way forward with countries and communities linked together by a common market, communications and networking.

According to political experts, federalism is emerging as the central ethos of an emerging civilization that recognizes both national and sub-national identities and promotes regional and global frameworks for better understanding, coordination and cooperation. “In this sense, the philosophy of federation is transcending much beyond the system of governance to a way of life and civilization in the new millennium.

The federalists have formed a Forum of Federations. In Brussels the federation elected officials, civil servants and scholars. It was started by the Government of Canada in 1999, and currently has eight other partner governments: Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria and Switzerland. The Forum builds to make it possible for experienced federalists to share their knowledge and experience with those who have just become members. As far as I know, it was the first invitation to the Philippines. It was headed by former Speaker Jose de Venecia and Senator Aquilino Pimentel. It holds international conferences every three years.

Brazil hosted the sixth conference in 2013. I do not know if the Philippines was invited to that conference. But I do know that Rody Duterte, as the presidential candidate of the PDP Laban has been encouraged to take up the issue and include the shift to federalism in his program of government.

What it means is that he will work for the Philippines to stay as one country with smaller communities especially in Mindanao that do not have political clout. These local governments have the political clout to govern their communities. At the moment the big stumbling block in the governance of these communities is the power to tax and budget their income for the community’s needs. In what is known as IRA (the internal revenue allotment) the division between the national treasury and the community is 60-40 with 60 going to the national government. When we went around the Philippines talking to local authorities, they said that by the time the IRA is received, only 20 percent is left to spend for the local community.

With this kind of division, it is understandable why the local authorities are unable to support themselves. The unjust division is also one of the reasons why the Muslims would rather secede. So not surprisingly federalism is the best antidote to secession feared by most Filipinos who do not understand the system.

I have heard it said that Rodrigo Duterte is determined to change the Constitution to structure our politics and government to parliamentary government.

In his speech after being proclaimed the standardbearer of PDP-Laban political party, Duterte said he has no ambition to run for president, but decided to do so when his political party’s leaders urged him to run and push for federalism.

“Kinausap ako to carry the torch of federalism,” Duterte said. “I will build a nationwide consensus for federalism.” He is now chairman of the PDP-Laban Party.

Unfortunately that single statement should have won applause from the nation, but instead his cussing made the headlines.

Federalism is where the campaign should focus (if we ever have an election). In the coming May elections Filipinos should be made to understand it is between Aquino’s BBL and his candidates vs. Duterte’s (Federalism) and peace in Mindanao.

Ironically, the PDP-Laban had spearheaded for federalism for many years and it is only now that it has finally gaining ground after more than a decade.

As former President Fidel Ramos has said, It is time we have the first president from Mindanao…and federalism introduced to the people of the Philippines as a solution to war that has claimed so many lives. Then we can say that Lanao is indeed the birthplace of federalism in the Philippines.