Analyst Heydarian’s take on federalism

GMA resident analyst Richard Heydarian on Thursday said the Philippines must not rush to change its Constitution without amply educating the public on federal charters being proposed.

With a presidential-federal system on the table, similar to that of the United States, Heydarian shed light on the different powers of autonomy and taxation that could be distributed individually to states.

The current debates, he added, should touch more on the capability of a region to govern itself or raise taxes on its own, as well as on the efforts of the central government to help it stand on its own.

The analyst also weighed in on how "ulterior motives" of some politicians could be put into action, especially with a no-election scenario demanded in the transition to a federal government.

He urged the government, as well as neutral experts, academics and mainstream media to see to it that Filipinos learn about the mechanics, and possible loopholes under the system of government that the country would be shifting to.  

Watch the full video of the interview on Balitanghali below.

—Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News