A member of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) which drafted the proposed federal charter admitted yesterday that the biggest challenge to a shift to a federal form of government is public awareness and acceptance.
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said in a television interview that the ConCom’s job is already finished having submitted the working model of a constitution which Congress can either adopt, amend or disregard.
“I think the more important thing now is to get the people familiar with the whole idea of Federalism,” Aquino said. “Federalism does not have one fixed meaning.”
“Federalism can take many different forms and we have made a pattern that we think would be good for the Philippines. We need to show Filipinos the intent behind the Federalism shift to clarify doubts,” he added.
The dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law said government should push Federalism to the public, especially now that the Duterte administration only has four more years left.
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Aquino emphasized that the shift to Federalism from the present presidential system being a big one, “there will be costs.”
But he said the important thing is to make sure “Federalism remains the agenda of the President.”
The Presidential Communications Operations Office has asked for a budget of at least P90 million to promote Federalism although at present it has about P10 million for that purpose.
“Federalism is something greater than Rodrigo Duterte. It’s a plan, a groundwork, for the future of the Republic. But at this stage, the support of the President is something indispensable,” he added.
Duterte has been steadfast in pushing a shift to a Federalism, going to the extent of announcing he is willing to retire ahead of 2022 if the shift in the form of government is realized.
But the President said he doesn’t want Vice President Leni Robredo to replace him as transition president as he tagged her as “incompetent.”
“It is important for Duterte to get his Cabinet to stand by him and back Federalism,” Aquino said.
Surveys showed little public knowledge on matters concerning the present Constitution and efforts to overhaul it.
