PHL not yet ready for federalism —NEDA chief

The Philippines is not yet ready for a shift to a federal form of government, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

In an interview on GMA News TV's "Bawal ang Pasaway" earlier this week, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that federalism was not considered when the stakeholders crafted the Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022.

"Ang isip ng karamihan namin ay hindi tayo prepared for federalism," Pernia said.

Other economic managers such as the leaders in the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management also share the same sentiment, he added.

Pernia said that his stance remains as the Duterte administration fares through the second half of its term.

"Mas mabuti na mag-focus tayo sa regional development, meaning, aayusin natin 'yung mga regions especially 'yung mga naiiwanan," he said.

Further, Pernia quoted former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as saying that President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged that federalism will not likely be implemented during "his time."

In December, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a draft federal charter where the form and structure of the government will be a presidential-bicameral-federal system. —LDF, GMA News