MAYBE now, at this early, President Rodrigo Duterte, allies and followers are already preparing their list of actions before they will start seriously their road map in having a new charter and a federal system. For sure there will be some opposition and some pitch battles in court, but under the Duterte leadership, nothing is insurmountable.
Only the other day, a national newspaper reported that former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide who is one of the framers of the 1986 constitution described as a 'leap into hell' the shift of the present unitary system of government into a federal form. As of this writing there was no word yet from President Duterte or from his spokespersons. Expect a rebuttal. No cuss words please.
I believe that one of our roles media persons should make open discussions on this issue, and if possible in the most simple way so the understanding will cascade down. Let's not leave it to constitutionalists, lawyers, politicians and scholars. Otherwise, many people who will be involved in having a vote during the referendum will remorsefully realized that they are asked on something which they don't really understand.
It is expected early next year, scheduled in January, congress may start the plenary debates as soon as those created technical working groups submitted the draft of the new charter. I am bit surprised that our own Pampanga Congressman Aurelio 'Dong' Gonzales, Jr. was one of the two lawmakers who took the initiative of drafting the new charter. I thought all the while Dong Gonzales is only good in following up infra projects for the province’s third district.
Here are some of the proposed provisions: +Legislative power is vested in the Federal Congress of the FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES consisting of the senate and the House of Representatives. The senate shall be composed of at least two to six senators per region. The senators will be elected at large of each region.
+ The Federal Republic shall be divided into 18 regions. Each region shall be governed by a regional governor who shall exercise executive power and a regional assembly which will be unicameral in nature.
+ There shall be new modes of sharing taxes between the national government and the local government units.
There are more revisions of the 1986 constitution. I was trying to call Congressman Gonzales for interview in my TV program which is being aired three times per week which aside from reaching the central Luzon provinces it reaches audiences as far as Rizal, Pangasinan and Batangas. His phone was ringing. No answer and no return call either. I think this is one moment in his life as a public servant where he can really shine.
BTW. At this early I've heard many are interested in running for the Senate in as much as Central Luzon region may be electing five to six senators depending on the number of inhabitants at the time the new charter may pass. In the corridors I heard the name of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Angeles City Mayor Pamintuan who is currently the president of the League of Cities in the Philippines.
