MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has formed an interagency task force that will oversee the efforts toward the planned shift to a federal form of government.
Memorandum Circular 52 created the task force. It was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by the authority of the President on Oct. 31 and released to the press Monday.
“The conduct of a public information drive and advocacy campaign at the grassroots level is necessary to raise public awareness on federalism and constitutional reform, as well as to ensure widest public participation in the ongoing initiatives to amend or revise the fundamental law of the land,” read part of the memorandum.
“Constant consultations with all sectors of society is essential in every stage of the process of constitutional reform so that all such efforts towards reform will embody the sovereign will and reflect the ideals and aspirations of our people,” it read further.
The task force’s mandates include:
* develop strategies and implement such activities necessary and proper to raise public awareness on Federalism and constitutional reform
* prepare an Information Dissemination and Public Communication Plan to ensure an effective, efficient and uniform undertaking of advocacy activities
* undertake consultations with the former members of the Consultative Committee, government agencies, the private sector, and the public in general concerning federalism and constitutional reform
* liaise with Congress to initiate the process of and address the roadblocks to constitutional reform
* perform such other functions as the President may direct
The Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary will serve as the task force chairperson and the Department of Justice secretary, the vice chairperson.
Task force members include representatives from the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Presidential Management Staff, Presidential Communications and Operations Office, Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, Office of the Political Adviser, Commission on Higher Education, Development Academy of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines Law Center./PN
