ConCom recommends shift to federal form of government

By RICO C. NAVARRO

The Committee on the Structure of the Republic of the Consultative Commission (ConCom) recommended yesterday a shift to federalism to replace the present unitary system of government.

But the motion was carried out only after a long heated debate lasting almost three hours between those in favor and those who opted for the retention of the unitary system.

The committee voted 16 in favor, eight against, and one abstention.

A shift to federalism will have a transition period of 10 years but there is a need for the holding of a plebiscite in 2006 or early 2007, ConCom Chairman Jose V. Abueva said.

Abueva, a leading advocate of federalism, also said that under the proposal, federal states will be fully established in 2016 or 2017. There is also a proposal to extend the term of local officials to five years.

The 49-man ConCom will further discuss the proposed federal structure of government during their plenary session on Thursday. Another fiery debate among proponents of federalism and the unitary system of government is expected to dominate Thursday’s session.

"We have a very heated debate, but as usual the debate was on a higher plane," ConCom Secretary General Lito Monico C. Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana is a known federalist. He said the committee will defend the proposed federal form of structure of government during the plenary session.

Lorenzana said that the implication of today’s voting "is very clear, that there is a sense all over that the unitary system of government has not been very successful, and so therefore, there is going to be a shift which is also in the mind of the President (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) and also on the mind of (House) Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr."

 

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