CEBU FEDERAL, INC.
PRIMER
The persistence of massive poverty and underdevelopment and the problems associated with them, makes it difficult to achieve substantial and equitable development.
With a population of some 80 million, the Philippines* is the 14th most populous country in the world. Continued centralized governance of such a large, dispersed population from a distant national capital inhibits the people’s meaningful and effective participation in governmental decision-making and public affairs affecting their lives.
Thus, if we accept the proposition that the Federal system is what the country needs to attain economic security, political stability and equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth, then no effort and expense should be spared to put it in place.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
We
believe in God, the dignity of man, the right of each citizen to choose his way
of life, to achieve through his dedication and hard work freedom and justice.
We believe in a Republic responsive to the needs of citizens, and structured in the concept of Federal autonomy which will allow each region to chart its own destiny.
We also believe that without a strong domestic economy as a primary ingredient, industrialization cannot be achieved.
We believe in free enterprise where all are allowed to seek their chosen field of endeavor, where no one is legislated into any livelihood sector not of their choice, and in a minimum of government control.
FEDERALIZATION
Some
politicians oppose the concept of Federalization. They say that most areas cannot support
themselves. This is untrue. They say that the funds come from Manila, and are sent to
the provinces for their operational support.
Again untrue.
What they mean is that the funds are siphoned from the provinces, amassed in Manila, and then are reallocated on a “tinge” system back to the areas or regions for operational needs, most of which are inadequate, arrive too late, or are woefully short of the region’s needs.
These politicians, most of them now in power, and others, who wish to be part in running a government vulnerable to corruption, want to hold and dispense all the money the nation generates.
REVENUES
The
key to Federalization is of control over one’s revenues. We propose that each region retain 80% of all
its revenues; reverse the present process, as it will be the region that will
now send the national government 20% of all its income.
TAXATION POWERS
Each
Federal region will determine its own taxes, and these will be based on the
economic level of the region.
These taxes will be set by the region’s Federal assembly. The guiding principle will be the economic level of the region. Under a Federal system, across the board taxation is not tolerated. Taxes must take into consideration the economic realities of each area.
FEDERALIZATION VERSUS
CENTRALIZATION
Under
the present unitary system, (a remnant of our colonial past that was imposed by
the Spaniards and Americans to advance their colonial imperial interests),
practically all powers are vested in a highly centralized government. The concentration of power at the top
inevitably results in political and economic imbalance and injustice. It is the reason why many regions in the Philippines
remain poor and underdeveloped. Poverty
in turn spawned widespread criminality, rebellion and secession, especially in
the most neglected areas in Mindanao and many parts of Luzon
and the Visayas.
IMPERIAL MANILA AND DECENTRALIZATION
The
administrative centralization and the President’s tight control over the
releases of funds already authorized and of the local governments’ share of the
taxes they have collected have led local leaders far from the capital to
complain of “Imperial Manila.”
They feel that their localities are treated like “colonies” of the national government. It is this cumulative local resentment that once fueled a movement for the Mindanao Independence.
The government permits the decentralization of some functions and the establishment of autonomous regions which are given a certain measure of local self-governance.
But this distribution of authority does not indicate a trend toward federalism, for the essence of power still remains in the hands of the national government. It may apportion authority at any time, and in any way it sees fit. It may even abolish all the agencies of local governments – department, commission, bureau, regional, provincial, city, municipal, or Barangay units – at a single stroke.
For under the unitary system, local governments are mere creations of the national government, and possess only such measure of authority as the national government may care to bestow.
Federalization once achieved cannot be taken away. Its functions will be protected by the Constitution. And Federalization will give full authority to those in local government to set their own budgets, administer their funds and manage their services, with no strings attached.
As centralism forces undue obedience, federalism promotes autonomy; as centralism forces unity and homogenization, federalism enhances Filipino nationhood; as centralism remains “the refuge of fear,” federalism expresses confidence in the ideals of liberty and freedom.
The federal system of government secures not only the sovereignty of the Republic but the future of the Filipino people.
WHAT FUNCTIONS WILL
FEDERALIZATION COVER?
The
regional Federal government will have full control over its own programs and
plans in:
· Natural
Resources
· Public Works and Highways
· Industrialization
· Agriculture
· Tourism
· Ecology
· Customs and Taxation
· Health – build their own hospitals
· Educational Facilities – build schools and colleges where needed.
· Police – training, appointments, promotions and discharge.
· Judicial System – Appointment of Judges (or elected locally).
· Cultural Development – developing and maintaining its culture and regional traditions.
· Transportation – Hold the powers of franchising, licensing of cars, trucks, and ships.
The national government will have control over national defense, foreign affairs, all matters of currency, weights and measures, customs and boundary matters, federal citizenship, immigration and emigration, federal air transport and railroads, postal and telecommunications service, and internal security among others.
It should be emphatically stated in the Constitution that the powers not delegated to the national government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it, are reserved to the Regions or to the people.
WHAT
FEDERAL POWERS WILL A REGION POSSESS?
It will have fiscal autonomy, which means it
shall levy its own income tax, sales and excise tax, and other forms of taxes
commensurate to its economic lever. It
will have absolute disposition of its revenues, except for its annual
remittance of its contribution to the national government of 20%. It can also float bonds and incur
indebtedness.
WHAT
FEDERAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT?
There are many forms to the Federal system,
just as there are different styles and systems to the centralized form of
government.
Even those who propose the Federal system have different ideas on how some of the management aspects will operate.
We should study and learn from the many variants among the 40 or so federal governments in the world. Among the leading federations whose features may be adopted are the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, and Malaysia. Much can also be learned from such semi-federal unitary systems as Spain and the People’s Republic of China that have special autonomous political regions.
WHAT
ARE THE EFFECTS OF FEDERALIZATION?
The immediate effect of Federalization is a
wider distribution of national resources.
This in turn will decongest cities, and we will se a shift back to the
countryside because there will be jobs for people. It will solve poverty as well because the
squatters will return to the provinces.
Keeping most of the revenues at the source of the revenue fountain will help establish new trading centers and this will have the bonus of modernizing the country faster.
The whole effect will translate into a real feeling of buoyancy, a feeling that the country is improving, that progress is not only a dream but is truly attainable, that there is really a thing called hope, and finally, it will trigger moral regeneration.
This return to the norms of civilization in terms of right and wrong, and justice for all will be the real blessing of Federalization.
THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE
The Federal-Presidential form of Government shall have a nationally elected president and vice president.
It shall have a bicameral Federal Congress composed of senators elected by voters on the regional level to enact laws for the whole country, and representatives elected by the voters in the congressional districts.
The region shall be headed by the regional governor and vice regional governor elected by voters in the component provinces and cities. The provinces and cities shall elect one from each to compose the regional assembly.
The province shall continue to be headed by the provincial governor, vice governor and provincial board members; the city and municipality by the current set of officials.
In the Federal system envisioned, all elected national, regional, provincial, city, municipal and Barangay leaders shall serve a term of four years, with one reelection, or a total of eight consecutive years of service; and all elections shall be synchronized. This is intended for economy and to encourage the development of a nationwide two-party system. A strong and stable two-party system is conducive to the operation of a federal system.
Moreover, there shall be “block voting” for the President and the Vice President in order to promote party unity and accountability. The election of senators by each region will ensure equitable representation of the entire country in the Senate.
Let us now, as a nation, allow ourselves to explore options towards better governance --- one that is closer to the people, responsive and on that will face head-on the problems of corruption and patronage politics.
And since a new Constitution has to be crafted by a Constitutional Convention – to embody the true will, the cherished values, and the highest ideals and aspirations of the Filipino people – let it be hammered out by high-minded individuals specially chosen for the task.
******
The Seal
The
icon of Lapulapu – symbol of nationalism, freedom and liberty – superimposed on
Mactan Channel showing the Bridge – symbol of unity – encircled with the words
Cebu Federal, Incorporated 2008.
References:
UNDERSTANDING THE FEDERAL SYSTEM by Lorenzo “Lorie” M. de la Serna
TO END SEPARATIST MOVES IN MINDANAO, FEDERALIZE THE REPUBLIC by Senator Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel, Jr.
TRANSFORMING OUR UNITARY SYSTEM TO A FEDERAL SYSTEM by Jose “Pepe” V. Abueva
*Reported officially at 88.57 as of the August 2007 census and currently ranked 12th most populous in the world.