‘Federalism still alive, feasible under Rody’

Despite President Duterte’s declaration that the shift to federalism won’t happen under his term, the issue is not yet dead.

Former consultative committee (Con-com) spokesman Ding Generoso said the plan to change the form of government to federalism is still feasible within the last three years of the Duterte administration. In an interview on One News’ “The Chiefs,” aired on Cignal TV Wednesday night, Generoso said that advocates of federalism are not giving

up efforts for a shift in government.

He said the three remaining years of the Duterte government are sufficient for a people’s initiative or for Congress to amend the Constitution for federalism.

“We don’t want this issue to die. We have to keep it alive even if we have to go into another administration after three years,” Generoso said.

Former senator and Concom member Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said he is not losing hope even if Duterte seemed to have given up on federalism.

Pimentel said the President is only trying to set priorities that will grant powers to local government units (LGUs).

“The President is not abandoning the cause of federalism. He is just giving attention to ‘priority’ measures that would grant more powers to LGUs to develop their own areas of responsibility,” Pimentel told The STAR.

He said the Duterte administration has enough time to push the plan or until 2022 “to initiate specific proposals to speed up the development of the nation.”

Generoso echoed Pimentel’s statement, saying that a lot of things can still be done with the remaining three years of the Duterte administration for the shift to federalism.

An also-ran in the senatorial race, Generoso said he was not surprised by Duterte’s pronouncement as he had heard the same sentiment from senator-elect Bong Go that the shift to federalism is unlikely to happen during the present administration.

As in Duterte’s previous flip-flopping statements, Generoso said he is “trying to read between the lines” whenever the President speaks.

He said the shift to federalism should be pushed through, noting they have introduced reforms in the political system, judiciary, anti-political dynasty, antiturncoatism, creation of democracy fund and socio-economic and environmental rights, among others.

But in case Duterte gives up on federalism, Generoso said that his political party and other groups including the “Hugpong Federal Movement of the Philippines” will push through with the people’s initiative.

“If they do not want to put it on the table, there is still an option and that is the people’s initiative,” Generoso said.

He said they are going for Charter change either by Congress or through people’s initiative.

Generoso expressed optimism that the President still favors a federal form of government even after admitting that it would not be realized under his term.

He said they would continue to convince the President that federalism is still possible under his term.

Generoso said the President probably did not submit a draft proposal for federalism because he is not convinced it would be passed by the 17th Congress.

“There are reasons why the President did not submit the draft. One is that there is only a year left in Congress and the six months would be devoted to tackling the budget. The other was that he was not confident he could secure the Senate vote,” he said.

“So now he has a chance and opportunity to bring it back to Congress. SONA is approaching and we are hoping the President might be emboldened (to submit the proposal),” Generoso added, referring to the State of the Nation Address.