Federalism an inter-agency campaign

The budget for the communications campaign for Federalism was never lodged in the annual budget of the PCOO

ANDANAR: Still faithful to Federalism drive.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office yesterday clarified that funds for the information drive on the proposed shift to Federalism is not with the PCOO but are held by an inter-agency task force formed for the campaign.

This was disclosed by lawyer Marie Rafael, PCOO Assistant Secretary for Operations and Legislative Affairs, to clear reports that the Federalism campaign will be discontinued next year as it was not included in the PCOO budget request.

“During the committee hearing for the PCOO’s budget in the House of Representatives, it was mentioned that the Federalism campaign was not included in the PCOO’s budget proposal for 2020. This has always been the case since there is an IATF (inter-agency task force) tasked to lead the Federalism campaign with the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) as the lead agency,” Rafael said in a statement.

She said the IATF “has the primary duty of integrating, harmonizing, and coordinating ongoing efforts towards Federalism and constitutional reform.”

“From the start, the PCOO has always taken its cue from the DILG and the IATF. The budget for the communications campaign for Federalism was never lodged in the annual budget of the PCOO,” Rafael stated.

As part of the IATF and in fulfillment of its mandate to serve as the premier arm of the Executive in involving the citizenry and mass media, the PCOO was tasked to implement the communications plan prepared by the body.

In August 2018, the PCOO, headed by Sec. Martin Andanar, received P10 million from the DILG to carry out this task.

For 2020, however, Rafael said it is still unclear if the PCOO would continue with the information drive as “there is no word yet from the DILG.”

Still, noted the official, the PCOO would remain in support of the IATF and the push to shift to a Federal form of government.

“The PCOO remains supportive of any IATF of which it is a member and will continue to fulfill its mission of serving as a tool for informing, educating, enlightening the citizenry about matters of national importance,” she added.

Shifting to Federalism was one of then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s major campaign promises during the 2016 race to Malacañang.

Under Federalism, the country would be divided into at least 17 regions where each region would be financed by its respective collection of taxes and fees, share top revenue sources, an equalization fund, the national budget and shares from income sourced in natural resources.

Mr. Duterte, however, seemingly slowed down on lobbying for Federalism when he admitted back in June that the shift may not likely happen under his term.

He said that he might just opt to have the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution amended.

Unlike in the past, the President also did not mention anything about his Federalism push during his last State of the Nation Address (SoNA) in June.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, however, assured that Federalism remains a priority thrust of the government.

Año said while Mr. Duterte did not mention Federalism during his SoNA, the President always talked about a Federal shift in some of his speeches, especially in Mindanao.

He also said that the Interagency Task Force for Federalism and Constitutional Reform, which he chairs, will continue with its tasks unless told by the President to cease its operations.