Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Tuesday calls for a revolutionary government could affect the country’s fiscal position.

Gatchalian made the statement as he criticized the proponents of a revolutionary government in the midst of a deep and prolonged crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senator said the group, which claims to be supporters of President Duterte, is calling for a revolutionary government, which will push for a shift to a federal form of government.

But even state economic managers have voiced out their stand against the shift to federalism which they believe could hurt the country’s economy in the long run.

“This will create instability in our fiscal position and will prompt a massive fiscal deficit in our budgeting system,” Gatchalian said.

“Kung ibaba natin ito sa local governments, maba-bankrupt ang national government, sino ang magbabayad ng mga utang? Lalaki yung ating deficit. Ngayon ang tanong -- saan tayo kukuha ng panggastos para labanan ang COVID-19? (If we are going at the level of local government units, the national government will go bankrupt. So who will pay for the debts? Our deficit will grow. The question now will be - where are we going to source funds to fight COVID-19?)”

“Even the economic managers were very wary and they were strongly opposing the shift to federalism,” he said.

There is also a strong possibility that a change in the form of government at this point in time will push the country on the brink of collapse.

“Kapag nag-move tayo (If we move) to federalism at this point in time, mas lalaki pa ang problema natin (We will have bigger problems). From the health crisis, lilipat tayo (it will turn) into an economic crisis, or even a political crisis ,” he said.

Instead of pushing for a revolutionary government, Gatchalian urged the proponents to call for unity and cooperation among all Filipinos.

He said insisting on a revolutionary form of government will divide the nation and will demolish the separate branches of the government that enjoin the maintenance of a system of checks and balances.

The lawmaker said it is important for the government to maintain a system of check and balances to ensure stability.

“Kailangan natin ng check and balance para makita natin kung tama ang ginagawa ng gobyerno (We need a system of check and balance to see if the government is doing the right thing),” Gatchalian said.

“Sa isang revolutionary government, magkakaroon tayo ng malalim na hidwaan o pagkawatak-watak sa ating lipunan na hindi natin kailangan ngayon. Ang kailangan natin ngayon ay magsama-sama para labanan ang COVID-19 (In a revolutionary government, we will just experience serious conflict and our community will be divided which we don’t need at this point. What we need is to be united so we can fight the COVID-19,” he added.