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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos says PH taking 'first step' of federalism

Marcos says PH taking 'first step' of federalism

Published Aug 24, 2023 06:25 am

The Philippines is “doing the first step” to becoming a federal government “in all but name,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, Aug. 24.

Marcos_PFP.jpgPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the oath-taking of new members of his political party--Partido Federal ng Pilipinas--in Malacañang on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (Photo courtesy of PPA Pool/Yummie Dingding)

During the oath-taking ceremony of new members of his political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the Chief Executive explained how his administration has started the shift to federalism by giving the “discretion” and “power” to the local government units (LGUs).

“So, we are doing the first step of the federation – federal government for the Philippines in all but name, and that is what we will continue to do,” he said.

“And that is very simple that derives from a very simple idea that the stability of a political structure is much more reliable when we have many power centers. If the power centers only belong here in Manila, then pabagsakin mo ‘yung Manila, bagsak ang buong Pilipinas (when Manila crumbles, the whole Philippines crumbles, too),” he added.

The President argued that power must not be centered in Metro Manila.

Marcos also stressed that bringing the power to the local governments, local districts, and those “operating at the local level” will bring the power from the centers down to “many, many, many places” that “makes for a more stable political structure and makes a more stable political life.”

In January 2022, Marcos said that a federal system of government suits the Philippines but admitted that it is not easy to change the 1987 Constitution for it.

“Dahil kung may mangyari sa isang lugar, kahit bumagsak ‘yan, basta’t nasira, hindi na talaga puwede, nagkagiyera, whatever, tuloy pa rin ‘yung mga iba (Because if something happens to one place, if it goes down, if it gets destroyed, it cannot be, if there’s a war, whatever, others can continue),” he explained.

“Hindi nasisira ang buong sistema (The whole system will not go down). And that is what we – that is the central ideology of the PFP,” Marcos added.

Related Tags

Federalism 1987 Constitution Partido Federal ng Pilipinas local government units President Marcos
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