INTRODUCTION AND H

ISTORY OF FEDERALI
SM
Dr. Edwin Chinel Monares
Federalist
President, Global Zenith Research and
Consulting, Inc.
Executive Director, SAVE ME Movement, Inc.

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
Agency of the STATE by
which the WILL of the
PEOPLE is EXPRESSED,
FORMULATED and
CARRIED OUT

What are the forms of

government?

According to the Number

of People Holding
POLITICAL POWER

According to the POWER

exercised by the Central
Government

1. MONARCHY Political
power is exercised by
the
King/Queen/Monarch
a) Absolute
Monarchy
b) Constitutional or
Limited Monarchy

According to the
relationships between the
EXECUTIVE POWER and
LEGISLATIVE POWER

1. UNITARY a system of
government by which the
central government is
ULTIMATELY SUPREME and
any administrative
divisions exercise only
powers that the central
government chooses to
delegate (Devolution in
2.
ARISTOCRACY/OLIGARCHY the Philippines, RA 7160)
Political power is
exercised by the
PRIVILEGED FEW.

1. PRESIDENTIAL Adopts
the SEPARATION OF
POWERS between the
EXECUTIVE and the
LEGISLATIVE branches of
the government

3. DEMOCRACY Political
power is exercised by the
MANY
a) Direct Democracy
b) Indirect/Represen
tative or
Republican

3. SEMI-PARLIAMENTARY/
PRESIDENTIAL Adopts
the BALANCE OF POWERS
between the Head of
State and the Head of
Government.

2.FEDERAL - a system of
government that DIVIDE
UP POWER between a
strong national
government and smaller
local governments

2. PARLIAMENTARY
Adopts the FUSION OF
POWERS between the
EXECUTIVE and the
LEGISLATIVE branches of
the government

What is The present form of

Philippine government?
According to the Number
of People Holding
POLITICAL POWER

According to the POWER

exercised by the Central
Government

According to the
relationships between the
EXECUTIVE POWER and
LEGISLATIVE POWER

3. DEMOCRACY Political
power is exercised by the
MANY
a) Direct Democracy
b) Indirect/Represen
tative or
Republican
Democracy

1. UNITARY a system of
government by which the
central government is
ULTIMATELY SUPREME and
any administrative
divisions exercise only
powers that the central
government chooses to
delegate (Devolution in
the Philippines, RA 7160)

1. PRESIDENTIAL Adopts
the SEPARATION OF
POWERS between the
EXECUTIVE and the
LEGISLATIVE branches of
the government

Forms of government by
selected countries?
Countries

According to the
Number of People
Holding POLITICAL
POWER

According to the
POWER exercised
by the Central
Government

According to the
relationships
between the
EXECUTIVE POWER
and LEGISLATIVE
POWER

USA

Democratic

Federal

Presidential

CANADA

Monarchy

Federal

Parliamentary

FRANCE

Democratic

Unitary

Semi-Presidential

GERMANY

Democratic

Federal

Parliamentary

MALAYSIA

Monarchy

Federal

Parliamentary

JAPAN

Monarchy

Unitary

Parliamentary

THAILAND

Monarchy

Unitary

Parliamentary

The pre-colonial form of Philippine government?

According to the Number

of People Holding
POLITICAL POWER
MONARCHY Political
power was exercised by
the Chieftain called
DATU / RAJAH

According to the POWER

exercised by the Central
Government
Balangays and
Confederation of
Balangays (Kedatuan)
Confederation of Madyaas

According to the
relationships between the
EXECUTIVE POWER and
LEGISLATIVE POWER
PARLIAMENTARY the
Council of Elders assists
the DATU / RAJAH in
making policies

Philippine Government always Unitary

(except pre-Spanish time)
Period

Type of Government

Head

Constitution

Pre-Spanish (prior 1565)

Autonomous

Local Chieftains

Common customs and

traditions

Spanish Regime (15651898)

Colonial-Unitary

Spanish GovernadorGeneral

Royal decrees and

orders

1st Philippine Republic

(1899-1901)

Revolutionary-Unitary

President

1899 Malolos
Constitution

American Regime (19011935)

Colonial-Unitary

Governor-General

US Constitution and
local decrees

Commonwealth (19351946)

Colonial-Unitary
(Pre-Independence)

President

1935 Constitution

WW2 (1941-1945)
2nd Philippine Republic

Japanese puppet
government
(Military Dictatorship)

President

Japanese-imposed 1943
Constitution

3rd Philippine Republic

(1946-1972)

President-Unitary

President

1935 Constitution

4th Philippine Republic

(1973-1986)

President-Unitary

President

1973 Constitution

5th Republic (1987 to

present)

President-Unitary

President

1987 Constitution

What is Federalism?
A form of government where
sovereignty is constitutionally
shared between central authority
and states or regions
National government focuses on
nationwide interests such as foreign
relations, national security, and
monetary policies
Autonomous regions or states will be
responsible for local development

Problems of A Unitary Government

Too much power in the hands of Imperial Manila

Problems of A Unitary Government

Delayed Response

Delayed repairs

Budget dictated by
national government

President controls most of government resources

and bureaucracy

Problems of A Unitary Government

Uneven development and distribution of resources

to the provinces and regions

Problems of A Unitary Government

Insurgency
Moro Rebellion
Social Unrest (due to injustice, poverty, corruption, political warlords and dynasties and failed agrarian reform)

HISTORY OF FEDERALISM IN THE

PHILIPPINES?

Aguinaldo and Mabini wanted the Philippine divided into three

Federal States in the drafting of the Malolos Constitution in 1899
Executive Order No. 453 on August 19, 2005 creating the
Consultative Commission headed by Dr. Abueva. The draft provided
for a transition to a parliamentary-federal government system.
Joint Resolution No. 10 (April 28, 2008) called for amending the
1987 Constitution and the eventual adoption of a federal system of
government (11 States plus Metro Manila) through Constituent
Assembly. (Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo
Biazon, Pia "Companera" Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis
"Chiz" Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo
Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Manuel "Manny"
Villar)
House Concurrent Resolution No. 15 (May 7, 2008) was in support
of the Senates Joint Resolution No. 10 but included constitutional
convention as the mode to revise the constitution.

What are the Stages to A federal

Philippines?
1. Approval of Concurrent Resolution by the
House of Representatives and the Senate to
Revise the Constitution either by
Constitutional Convention or Constituent
Assembly.
2. Drafting of the Proposed Constitution by the
ConCon or ConAss and the Consultation
Process
3. Submission of the Draft Proposed Constitution
to the People for Ratification via a Plebiscite
4. If YES prevails, the transition and the election
under the new constitution

Methods of federalism?

American Method Powers of the central

government are written down and the remaining
powers know as the residuary powers are given to
the provinces. The idea is to make the center weak
and the provinces strong.
Canadian Method Powers of the provinces are
written down in the constitution and residuary
powers are given to the federal government. The
idea is to make the center strong.
Indian Method Three lists are drawn. One
contains the powers of the federal government
called the Federal Lists. Similarly there is the
Provincial List and then there are third list called
concurrent list containing the powers which can be
exercised by both the governments.

Whats In it For Me (WIFM)

in Federalism

 Will federalism solve the problem in

education?
Will federalism solve the problem
concerning agriculture and fishery?
Will federalism address the issue of
disaster risk reduction and climate
change?
Will federalism solve the problem of
pollution on all fronts and
environmental degradation?

 Will federalism solve public health

issues, nutrition and sanitation?
Will federalism solve the problem of
the vulnerable sectors (IP, Seniors,
PWDs, Single Parents, Potentially
Neglected Children, etc)?
Will federalism solve the problem in
Muslim Mindanao and Insurgency?
Will federalism solve traffic?

 Will federalism solve corruption?

Will federalism solve peace and order
problems, i.e., crimes and drugs
Will federalism solve injustice justice delayed.
Will federalism solve transport
problems?
Will federalism solve unemployment
and poverty?

For change to be
permanent, it mu
st start with us
and in us.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!