Friday, 22 July 2016 10:49

Federalism: No one perfect model

Federalism is becoming increasingly important in the world today. Although only 28 countries claim to have a federal structure, they represent more than 40 percent of the world’s population. There are other countries that do not claim to be federal but their government structure has devolved powers to local governments that they actually resemble federal states.

Published in Commentaries
FILIPINOS may not realize that the fiscal relationship between their LGUs and the national government can only be described as grossly unjust. Maybe even that would be an understatement and yet it isn’t really that surprising given the long reliance of a colonial, extractive-oriented, unitary government (colonial masters used to be foreigners and since independence has shifted to Malacañang occupants controlled by the elites) enshrined in our present centralized unitary political system; hopefully, not much longer with the possible shift to federalism as envisioned by and the coming of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Published in Commentaries
MANILA, July 20 - In a meeting in Malacañan on Monday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the new “Roadmap to Peace” that will address issues with various rebel groups, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza announced during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Published in News
THE 1987 Philippine Constitution declares the Filipinos to be sovereign, and this is very interesting because to be “sovereign” means to be in “total control.” What it means in the arena of natural resources management is that the benefits derived from such are owned and managed exclusively by the national government for and in behalf of all Filipinos.
Published in Commentaries

CANBERRA—The first thing President Duterte did after his inauguration was to fly to Davao City to start dismantling the superstructure dominance of “Imperial Manila” as the national capital of the unitary Philippine state for more than 400 years.

Published in Commentaries
Monday, 11 July 2016 17:18

Federalism Round Table Discussion


A round-table discussion on Federalism has ensued before audiences from the government, business society, academe, and civil society in Davao city with the goal to build understanding on how the Duterte Administration can achieve this system shift.

Published in Recent Activities
Thursday, 07 July 2016 05:24

The rise of the new oligarchs

Metro Manila, being the highest seat of power in the country since colonial times, naturally benefits from a centralized system of governance. But the concentration of power in the capital also perpetuates the oligarchic nature of the Philippine economy. The only way to rectify this is by means of an asymmetric model of the federal system—if critics of the prevailing system are to be believed, one that should be anchored on just entitlements for everyone and the right to self-determination, a form of rectificatory justice, given hundreds of years of neglect.
Published in Commentaries
POVERTY, according to the United Nations, is “a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.”
Published in Commentaries
MANILA, Philippines -- Incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez hopes to have the election for delegates to the Constitutional Convention together with the barangay polls and subject proposed amendments to the Charter to a referendum in time with the 2019 midterm elections.
Published in News
Sunday, 03 July 2016 13:42

Federalism 102: National ID system

The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), an organization of eminent economists, recently asked for the institution of a national ID system to promote inclusive growth, and to safeguard peace and order.

Advantages of ID system. The FEF believes that the national ID system will, among others: 1) promote financial inclusion because it will enable many poor and “unbanked” Filipinos to open bank accounts, something not possible without a government-issued ID; 2) help the government identify the beneficiaries of welfare services; 3) deter identity fraud online and offline, thereby enhancing e-commerce; and 4) prevent criminals from faking their identities.
Published in Commentaries
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