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KPI Congress 20th
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2018
Thai Democracy on the Move

Current Moves to Adopt Federalism in the Country

It can be expected that the appreciation of federalism of President Duterte has been

mostly informed by his experiences as a mayor of Davao City for over two decades. Duterte
as City Mayor has had first-hand experiences – and frustrations – about a highly centralized

government and has called for more autonomy for local governments. By extension and
logic, his call for federalism is one that would further autonomy of local governments, and

deepen autonomy. With federalism, he sees that the wishes and aspirations of the various
tribes and peoples in Mindanao would be addressed. “I saw that this is the answer so I agreed

when Reuben Canoy (founder of Radio Mindanao Network and one of the strong advocates
of federalism) and Senator (Aquilino) Pimentel, the father, asked me to help in pushing for

federalism,” he said.

In his 2016 State of the Nation Address (SONA), he mentioned, “I have directed the
DILG to undertake a nationwide information and campaign on federalism in partnerships with

various alliances and with LGUs, civil society, grassroots and faith-based organization.” He
sees federalism as a vehicle to fulfill the wishes and aspiration of various tribes and people in

Mindanao. He once said, “I saw that this is the answer so I agreed when Reuben Canoy (founder
of Radio Mindanao Network and one of the strong advocates of federalism) and Senator

(Aquilino) Pimentel, the father, asked me to help in pushing for federalism.”

In operationalizing the shift to federalism, the President on January 25, 2018,
constituted a 19-member consultative commission headed by Chief Justice Reynato Puno and

former Senate Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr to review the current 1987 Constitution. In his Inquirer
7
column on the 8 August 2015, Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court Puno wrote, “Federalism

offers the best hope to our distinct minorities to be allowed self-rule. It is my submission that
federalism is best for a nation characterized by diversity.” The proposed constitution drafted

by the Consultative Commission has significant provisions on the proposed shift to federalism.
It was approved on after former Senate President Nene Pimentel’s motion for approval
เอกสารประกอบการประชุมกลุ่มย่อยที่ 3 7 1991, has been the prime mover for the adoption of federalism in the county. See Aquilino
was unopposed. It was released by the 22-member Consultative Committee (Con-com) and
submitted to the President in July 2018 for his consideration for his third SONA.

Senator Aquilino Pimenel, who was the primary author of the Local Government Code of

Nene Pimentel, Federalizing the Philippines. A Primer. Philippine Normal University Press, 2008.