Facilitate transition period for federalism - Angara

Angara today said that while federalism will surely empower local people and provinces, a transition period to help empower and strengthen the provinces for autonomy should first be facilitated.

According to Angara, former chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments Revision of Codes and Laws, "The current overly centralized set up impedes motivation for growth in the country.

"Federalism addresses that [problem], it gives our provinces more than just paper autonomy, but autonomy in implementation," Angara said.

"However, hastily embarking on a federal government could cause more problems than it would solve, especially if the poorer regions in the country are not prepared for this kind of set up," warned Angara.

"In a federal government, each state or region has its separate judiciary, police and security system, health system, etc. Richer regions such as the National Capital Region and Regions I and IV may be able to thrive in this system, but the poorer regions, such as the ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] and CARAGA, may not," explained the Senator.

"There should be a transition period with a system of autonomous regions before embarking on a full-blown federal government," Angara suggested.

Citing the Spain model, Angara asserted that, if properly implemented, federalism can be a boon for a country.

"Spain during the time of Francisco Franco experienced a national upheaval similar to what we're experiencing today. During that time of totalitarian rule, Andulasians, Catalans, and other Spanish tribes were suppressed, and did not participate in governance. But after Franco's death, Spain adapted first a system of autonomous regions to prepare the country to federalism," explained Angara.

"In just one generation, Spain bloomed and blossomed from being one of the poorest countries in Europe, to one of its richest. Each region competes for tourism and investment because they have the authority to do it on their own," said Angara.

"We can do something similar in the Philippines. In the long run, our goal will be to have a federal government, but in the medium term, we should focus on empowering autonomous regions first. That could be a transitional arrangement before we can graduate into a federal state," Angara said.

"Setting up a federal government takes time. Structures should be put up, powers should be defined, and boundaries should be negotiated," Angara elucidated.

"That's why we need to have a transition period first -- to avoid immediately breaking up the country only to fail even more miserably," said Angara.