The document provides an overview of federalism and proposes adopting a federal system of government for the Philippines. Some key points: - Federalism involves sharing powers between a central federal government and regional state governments. This contrasts with a unitary system where the central government holds most power. - Most stable and progressive countries have federal systems. Federal countries tend to be less corrupt than unitary countries. - Adopting federalism in the Philippines would decentralize power away from Metro Manila, establish new economic regions, and give states more autonomy over policies tailored to their needs. This could help address issues in Mindanao and incentivize development outside Manila. - The proposal outlines how political power would be shared and

1. FEDERALISM 101
A Presentation of the DILG & MRRD NECC PENAMFED
Task Team on Federalism
1

2. What is Federalism?
A system of government under which
significant government powers are shared
between the federal government and the
state governments
2

3. How Is
Federalism
Different From
Presidential-
Unitary System?
In a PRESIDENTIAL-UNITARY
system of government,
powers and resources are
under the control of the
central government
In FEDERALISM, the
powers and resources of
the government are
shared by the federal
government and the
Regional government
3

4. Unitary & Federal Countries
It is notable that the most stable and progressive
countries have federal forms of government.
4
Federal Countries
BANGLADESH
PHILIPPINES
AFHANISTAN
KHAZAKSTAN
AUSTRIA
GERMANY
CANADA
UNITED STATES
AUSTRALIA
Unitary Countries
LEBANON

5. Least & Most Corrupt Countries
Majority of countries belong to the most corrupt have
unitary form of government while the least corrupt are
mostly federal
Least Corrupt CountriesMost Corrupt Countries
NORTH KOREA AFGHANISTAN
SOUTH SUDAN
SOMALIA
ERITREAVENEZUELA
LIBYAIRAQ
SYRIA
DENMARK SWEDENFINLAND
AUSTRALIAUNITED KINGDOMLUXEMBOURG
SINGAPORESWITZERLANDNORWAY
as per Transparency International

6. The Federal Government
Operates Under:
ONE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION
ONE ARMED FORCES
ONE FLAG
ONE CENTRAL BANK
ONE MONETARY SYSTEM
ONE FOREIGN POLICY
ONE EMBLEM

7. Distribution and Sharing of Powers
Federal
(AMONG OTHERS)
•JUDICIARY (FEDERAL SUPREME COURT)
•CITIZENSHIP
•NATIONAL SECURTY
•FOREIGN RELATIONS
•NATIONAL ELECTIONS
•PEACE AND ORDER
•POLITICAL RIGHTS
•INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
•MONETARY SYSTEM
•IMMIGRATION, EMMIGRATION AND
EXTRADITION
•FOREIGN TRADE
•PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND
COMMUNICATION
State
(AMONG OTHERS)
•JUDICIARY (STATE SUPREME
AND LOCAL COURTS)
•CRIMNAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
(EXCEPT THOSE CASES
INVOLVING NATIONAL
SECURITY)
•PUBLIC UTILITIES
•ENFORCEMENT OF
NATIONAL AND STATE LAWS
•SOCIO-ECONOMIC
PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT
•FINANCE
•INFRASTRUCTURE
•ANCESTRAL DOMAIN
• HEALTH
• EDUCATION
• ENVIRONMENT
• SOCIAL WELFARE
• ENERGY
• TOURISM
• PEACE & ORDER
• LAW
ENFORCEMENT
• PUBLIC SAFETY
AND NATIONAL
DISASTERS
• NATIONAL
HIGHWAYS AND
RAILWAYS
• CIVIL RIGHTS
Shared
(AMONG OTHERS

8. 8
Political Structure of Federal System
State
Local
Federal
Constitution
Constitution

9. Benefits and Facts 9

10. Decentralization
and Devolution of Powers
Under the unitary system, we
only have one center of
power, finance and
development: the Imperial
Metro-Manila.
Under Federalism, more powers are
decentralized and devolved to local
government
10

11. Establishing Powerful
Economic Regions
Federalism is not
simply a ‘political’
undertaking, it is also
an economic effort.
11
By creating federal regions we shall immediately
establish centers of power, finance and
development throughout the country.

12. Equalization Fund
There shall be an Equalization Fund to
provide financial support to the marginalized
states to assist in the acceleration of their
development and progress. The funds shall
be taken from the top five (5) affluent states
of the country in terms of revenues.
12

13. Local Empowerment
Federalism allows states to exercise right to
self-determination such as to address their
problems based on their own geographic,
cultural, social and economic conditions
13

14. Incentives to Live, Work &
Invest Outside Manila
Federalism will promote
economic opportunities in the
regions and provide incentives
for Filipinos to live and work in
regions outside Metro Manila.
More investors may also decide to
put up their businesses outside
Manila thus creating more jobs and
opportunities to attract more people
away from the congested mega
cities.
14

15. Feasible Solution To The
Mindanao Issues
The creation of the Bangsamoro Regional
Government within a federalist system will
address concerns of our Muslim brothers and
sisters who crave more autonomy over the
governance and administration of Muslim
Mindanao.
15

16. Federalism on Political
Dynasties
In federalism with a strong political
party system, political dynasties will
become irrelevant. Political leaders
will become more accountable to
their constituents.
State governments will
no longer have any
excuse for delays in
services or projects.
16

17. Power To Collect and Spend Taxes
For Own Development
Right now, local government
units can only collect real
estate taxes and business
permit fees.
In federalism, they can
retain most of their revenue
income collection
And they can spend the money on programs
and policies according to their needs.
17

18. Proposed Sharing of Revenues
18
In Federalism,
the
distribution
will be
reversed
Under the present system, 80% of the revenue
collections goes to the National Government and
only 20% is distributed to Local Government
Units.

19. PROPOSED POLITICAL
STRUCTURE
FOR PHILIPPINE SETTING
19
As recommended by MRRD NECC PENAMFED – Federalism Study Group

20. Basic Features of Federal-Parliamentary
Political System
THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ARE
FUSED TO HAVE UNITY OF
PURPOSE. (Reason: The Separation
of Power causes intense rivalry and
competition for power between the
executive and legislative in a
system that has turned very
adversarial like Congressional
Investigations of executive policies
and actions, which unnecessarily
delay and obstruct legislation. )
THERE SHALL BE A
UNICAMERAL LEGISLATIVE
BODY. (There are no upper
and lower house of
congress anymore. It is
simply called “Parliament”,
one and only legislative
body of Federal
Government).
20

21. Basic Features, cont’d
There is a President
and a Vice President
who are both elected
at large as a team. A
vote for the President
is a vote for his Vice
President.
The President shall be
the head of the state
and the Commander-In-
Chief of all the Armed
Forces of the Philippines
and shall also have the
authority to dissolve the
Parliament under
specific circumstances;
The Vice
President shall be
the presiding
officer of the
Parliament.
There shall be a Prime
Minister who shall be
nominated by the President
, and affirmed by the
members of the Parliament.
He shall be the head of
government and can be
removed by a “vote of no
confidence” by members or
upon dissolution of the
Parliament by the President.
21

22. State Chief Minister, Deputies
& State Ministers
22
42

23. Deputies of Prime Minister &
the Cabinet Members
The Prime Minister shall be assisted by three deputies,
one for Luzon, one for Visayas and one for Mindanao.
Majority of the cabinet members are chosen by the
Prime Minister from among the members of the
Parliament. The President appoints the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors, Defense and the military
officers with the rank of full colonel and above.When the Prime Minister is voted out from office or
when the President dissolves the parliament, the cabinet
members are considered resigned.
23

24. Legislative Powers
Vested
Form/
Manner of Election
Proposed
Composition
1. Members of
Unicameral Federal
Parliament
MEMBERS SHALL BE
ELECTED BY LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICTS.
THERE SHALL BE
SECTORAL MEMBERS
ELECTED FROM AMONG
THE MEMBERS OF THE
SECTORS THEY WISH TO
REPRESENT
ONE(1) MEMBER OF
PARLIAMENT FOR EVERY
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND
THREE (3) MEMBERS ON
EACH SECTOR COMING
FROM LUZON, VISAYAS &
MINDANAO.
TERM IS FIVE (5) YEARS
2. Members of
Unicameral State
Parliament
ELECTED BY LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICTS.
THE SECTORAL MEMBERS
SHALL BE ELECTED FROM
AMONG THE MEMBERS
OF THE SECTORS
THREE (3) MEMBERS FOR
EACH DISTRICT AND ONE (1)
MEMBER ON EACH SECTOR
TERM IS FIVE (5) YEARS AND
LIMITED TO ONE (1) RE-
ELECTION
Proposed Legislative Composition
24

25. Proposed Federal States
It is proposed that there shall be as
many federalstates as there areregions
in the Philippines considering that the
regionsas presently constituted are
culturally, environmentallyand
politicallydistinct from eachother.
The provinces of Sulu, Basilan& Tawi-
Tawishall be considered as one State.
Other autonomous regionsand
territoriesmay be createdwithin the
Statein the interest of nationalpeace
such as those areasprovided for
Indigenous People (IP’s)
25

26. What Will Happen To The Local Government Units
Under A Federal System?
• The officials and structures of cities,
municipalities, and barangays shall be the
same in the New Constitution. However, it
is proposed that the term of offices shall be
five (5) years to synchronize with the term
of state officials.
• The local government units shall evolve and
become part of a state. The state shall be
responsible only for the development of the
local government units’ social, economic,
cultural and political well-being of its
constituents, maintenance of peace and
order and enforcement of national and state
laws.
26

27. What Will Happen To The Judiciary
Under Federalism?
Each state shall also have
its own State Supreme
Courts and adopt its
judicial systems
consistent with national
and international norms.
There shall be a Federal
Supreme Court
27

28. 28
The Seat of Power
The Executive Department will hold
offices in the Federal Administrative
Region of Metro Manila similar to
Washington DC and Kuala Lumpur of
Malaysia
while the Judiciary will hold office in
the Federal State of Central Visayas
and the Legislative Department will
hold office in Federal State of
Northern Mindanao
By so doing, aside from the Luzon, the two other major geographical
regions of the country, Visayas & Mindanao, will now fully appreciate
thattheyareimportantparts–notmerelyappendices-oftheRepublic.

29. 29
Timeline

30. MODES IN REVISING
THE CONSTITUTION
30
• CON-CON or Constitutional Convention whose
members are directlyelectedby the people.
• CON-ASS or ConstitutionalAssembly,
constituted by the incumbent Congressmen
and Senators.
• CON-COM or Constitutional Commission,
which willbe composed by the Men and
Women of integrity,patriotismand experts
in their respective fields whose members
are directlyappointed by the President.
* However, it is suggested that Con-Conis the most ideal
mode because it is more empowering and inclusive.

31. Projected Timeline
• It is probable that the constitutional revision shall have
been completed not later than 2018 and submitted to
the people thru a plebiscite by 2019, coinciding with
the Mid-Term National Election;
• From June, 2019 to 2020, sub-national government
units (states), in accordance with the ratified Federal
Constitution, will make their respective state organic
laws, submit for approval to Parliament and shall be
ratified by the people thru a plebiscite
31

32. Transition Scenario
• Upon ratification of the New Constitution, the
President shall convene the Parliament which shall
composed of all the members of both Houses of Congress;
• Upon convening of the Federal Parliament, which shall have a
term of three (3) years, the President shall nominate the
Prime Minister for confirmation of the Parliament.
• Pursuant to the New Constitution, the President shall
organize the states by appointing the Chief Minister of each
state and his deputies, whose term shall end in May 2022.
• The new Chief Ministers will appoint their state ministers and
such other officials as may be authorized by the President;
• The structure of bureaucracy of each state shall be similar in
the Regional Government of Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM)
32

33. The Shift to Federal Republic
of The Philippines
• By 2020 to 2021, the process of effective, actual
transition from unitary to a federal government
should take place.
• On May 2022, we will probably elect the
President of the new Federal Republic of the
Philippines, together with the Members of
Parliament;
• The new Federal President may be installed on
June 30, 2022, and immediately thereafter, the
first Prime Minister and Members of the
Cabinet will be confirmed by the Parliament
33

34. Thank you!
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