Page 117 - kpi20440

การประชุมวิชาการสถาบันพระปกเกล้า 117
ครั้งที่ 20 ประจำาปี 2561
ประชาธิปไตยไทย: ก้าวย่างเพื่อการพัฒนา

actually begun with the Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP) that was the first decree signed

by Marcos in 1972 upon the proclamation of martial law in 1972! As regards finances, we can
build upon the experience we have had with the internal revenue allotment distribution to

local governments as provided for by the local government code of 1992. If anything at all, we
have learned that the use of the “formula” in allocating the IRA to the LGUs was simplistic:

the use of population, land area and equal sharing failed to take into account more important
factors such as poverty and performance. Building upon this important lesson learned, the

allocation of financial resources to the sub-national institutions – states and component local
governments – must take into consideration what Australians have referred to as “disabilities”

these institutions in terms of poverty incidence and resource deprivation.

The federalism debate should be placed in its proper perspective. To reduce the
federalism debate into a “are you for or against federalism” reflects a simpleminded appreciation

of the issue. Federalism should be places within a broader politico-administrative perspective
with a keen appreciation of its historical context. More specifically, it should be appreciated

within the context of our continuing search for responsive politico-administrative structures
and institutions considering that with the widespread poverty and inequity plaguing our society,

It is worthwhile to emphasize that from the Philippine perspective, the debate on

decentralization, devolution and local autonomy has not been new. The debate and discourse
on decentralization has been alive and well in the Philippines. There has been discourse on
autonomy as a subject of many policies including the Malolos Constitution, and Barrio Charter

Act of the 1950s. The idea of a federal structure for the Philippines was also articulated by

Jose Rizal in the late 1800s as part of the continuing search and design for the appropriate
politico-administrative system for the country. This was also re-articulated by former Philippine
President Jose P. Laurel, and later by his son, Salvador Laurel, who was the President of the

Nacionalista Party of the Philippines. Furthermore, the call to adopt federalism has taken

significance due to the 25th anniversary of the Local Government Code of the Philippines
which was celebrated last year, but more specifically, as we mentioned earlier, because
Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has made it as his key platform since he assumed

office in 2016. It is worthwhile to emphasize that the adoption of a federal form of government

has also been in the platform of the PDP-Laban, the political party of President Duterte, since
it was founded in 1982.