Duterte's federalism push can serve as template for next administration, Cabinet execs say

Cabinet officials said efforts to push for federalism are still ongoing, even as President Rodrigo Duterte made no mention of it in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año made the clarification on Tuesday when asked during a post-SONA press conference about Duterte’s earlier statement that he thinks it was not the "proper time" to discuss charter change.

Nograles said that, even if the shift to federalism does not happen during Duterte’s term, the efforts so far would serve as a “reference point” as well as a “working template” for the next administration.

“If it will not happen in the term of the President, at least lahat na ng pinag-usapan during the consultation, all of that is complemented and as long as it is documented and it serves as a reference point. If it will not happen in the term of the President but, — of course, we want it to happen — but if it does not happen, it will be established as a working template for the next administration,” Nograles said.

The Cabinet Secretary added that the President would not be “unsuccessful” in pushing for federalism, as it was under the Duterte administration that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was ratified.

“We also should not forget that under this administration of President Duterte na nagkaroon tayo ng Bangsamoro Organic Law. So if that will be the pre-cursor of what will be the federal states in the future, at the very least, hindi po naging unsuccessful si Pangulo when it comes to federalism per se,” Nograles said.

Año, for his part, emphasized that the President is still pushing for a federal form of government in spite his recent remarks.

“Even though the President did not mention it yesterday (at the SONA),…in talks in Mindanao, he (Duterte) mentioned he is still for federalism. Ang question is, kailan tayo ready?” said the Interior Secretary.

“So tuloy pa rin tayo, meron tayong inter-agency task force for federalism and constitutional reform. So hindi tayo federalism, at least constitutional reform. Alam naman natin na maraming lapses ang ating Konstitusyon,” he added.

Nograles agreed, maintaining that none of the efforts have “gone to waste.” —LDF, GMA News