Gov’t not giving up on federalism

Malacañang is not giving up on its push for federalism even if President Duterte himself has raised the possibility that the proposed shift to a federal government may not gain support under his watch.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the administration still has three years to push for federalism – a setup that Duterte said would spur development in the countryside and address the conflict in Mindanao.

“Palagay ko ’di mawawala yan. May tatlong taon pa naman tayo (I don’t think it will disappear. We still have three years),” Panelo said in a radio interview yesterday.

“I think so, yes, there is always a light at the end of tunnel,” he added.

The House of Representatives, which is dominated by the Duterte’s allies, approved its federalism bill last December. The measure was bypassed in the Senate due to lack of time.

Panelo said differences over the manner by which the 1987 Constitution would be amended had stalled the passage of the federalism bill.

“Members of Congress wanted themselves to be constituted as a constituent assembly in amending the Constitution, but they encountered problems. They did not know how to constitute themselves (as an assembly) and the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives did not reach an understanding on what to do,” Panelo said.

He noted that amendments to the Constitution may also be introduced through a constitutional convention or people’s initiative.

Last week, Duterte raised the possibility that the proposed shift to federalism, one of his campaign promises, might not enjoy the support of some local officials.

“If you do not want federalism, fine, but change the Constitution that would change this nation,” the President said during the oath taking of local officials in Malacañang last June 25.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar could not say whether federalism would be part of the legislative agenda to be discussed by Duterte in his fourth State of the Nation Address this month.

In a related development, Duterte called for the immediate release of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) budget, saying another revolution might start if the governemnt fails to do so.

He noted that the budget is needed to fund the salaries of BARMM officials and personnel and support the region’s programs.

“I think the money they need has not been released, or else we will have another round of revolutions here,” the President told reporters last Thursday.

“Somebody must kick the a** of whoever it is. I said the money should be given because they cannot move. They have to pay the officials working now,” he added.

The government has allotted P30 billion for the BARMM this year.