Filipinos not ready for federalism –Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipinos were not ready to shift to a federal form of government and this was why the transition did not pass during his term.

In a one-on-one interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar aired on Friday, Duterte explained that he communicated with local executives on shifting to federalism.

However, it was not accepted by the people.

“Akala siguro nila yung nag-aadvocate ng federalism na wala akong ginawa. Alam niyo nagkamali kayo. Every now and then I called the mayors, noon pa nung umpisa, magpunta ako kinakausap ko yung mga tao,” he recounted.

(Maybe those who advocated for federalism thought I didn't do anything. You know, you were wrong. Now and then I called local officials, from the beginning, I would go and talk to the people.)

Duterte had pushed for a shift to a federal form of government as a means to address national economic and power imbalances.

Under the proposed shift, the country would be divided into states that would be formed from the existing regions.

“They are not enamored because there are many forms of parliament. Pagdyan mo inaano ang mga tao hindi talaga nakakaintindi. Hindi kami nagkulang. Honestly as I can be, hindi talaga tanggapin ng tao,” Duterte said.

(The people don't understand. We tried our best to explain it. Honestly as I can be, people don’t accept it.)

“Ayaw talaga, so hindi na lang rin ako, sinabi ko sa kanila, ayaw ng tao. Natakot sila na may more expanded powers,” he added.

(They don't want it, so I no longer wanted it either. I told them, people don't want it. They feared that there would be more expanded powers.)

He earlier said that he had started packing his things with four months left before his term as President ends.

Duterte's term ends on June 30, 2022. — DVM, GMA News