WE LIVE in very dangerous and depressing times. This could very well be defined as lethal times with the killings, the inhuman conditions in our jails, the senseless arrests of so-called vagrants, the needless rivalries in Congress, the sad plight of our indigenous people, the unabated abuse of our environment, the loose application of our territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Most of us would rather walk away, turn our backs and go on a business as usual mode, dismissing one or more of the sins mentioned above as not worth our time. Or better still, “Lie low” and “Huwag na lang makialam.” Words matter. Action matters. Saying “NO” matters.
Federalism has been in the works and under wraps, until lately. Not one provision has come out in the open for discussion, study and consensus for the people to participate in. It is clear that it is not a nation participating in building a better tomorrow for future generations nor one building a better today.
Yes, undoubtedly, we have heard provisions trickle down, which have been eked out by our vigilant and courageous media researchers and writers. Those who are in the know are those who are drafting it and those who are whispering what to include, and what not to include. They definitely do not represent the Filipino people. They could be representing themselves or other interests, but certainly, if their aim is for the good of Filipinos, it follows that the principle of transparency should have been applied from the start.
Debates and public discussions are sadly missing. For this alone we should already oppose the so-called shift to Federalism. There are of course other reasons to oppose the shift to Federalism. For example, the hearings are being conducted only now when the draft has been printed and bound. Why should 25 people hold captive the destiny of millions of Filipino people as well as that of future generations?
By going federal we are adopting a different system of government which is totally new and which even our lawmakers are not familiar with. There are problems that accompany it, like a lengthy transition period which brings more problems than solutions. The cost will run according to the latest news even to billions of pesos which the country cannot afford.
Federalism is the form of government Dr. Salvador Araneta, my father, espoused during his lifetime. Noticeably, even the title of their draft, Bayanihan Federalism, is so close to that of Araneta’ s Bayanikasan Constitution for the Federal Republic of the Philippines.
But unfortunately, then and now, no one is ready for real change. Before shifting to Federalism we need a change of human values. One where our leaders stop being selfish and become selfless.
Our leaders must have to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit. They must be ready to accept the gift of Wisdom, to know what is good and what is evil; the gift of Fortitude, to transform the gift of wisdom into action which means they must possess true grit; and be imbued with Fear of the Lord to remove the evil of greed that eats up our humanity.
Drafting a constitution is a process where those who truly represent the people put into paper, a legal document which will spell out how we will be governed, how we will live, how we will enjoy freedom, liberty and independence.
It is a document where we tell those we elect what we want, what our aspirations are, what are our definite goals and what are our rights, that must never be violated.
It is not the other way around, where we wake up one morning and find a draft for us to say “Amen” to. Sovereignty resides in the people, if we are to remain a democratic society. Sovereignty of the people is our paramount consideration so we do not become slaves, or robots or prisoners or foreigners in our own land. Liberty and equality are the other components. These are basic tenets of democracy for which so many have died for. Let not their sacrifice be in vain.
The objection to Araneta’’s Bayanikasan Constitution during the ‘80s was that Federalism was something new. Today, that objection is still valid. Federalism is not only new, it could even be tragic. What is the Federalism that the 25 consultants stand for? There are various forms of Federalism; what version of Federalism did they glue together?
The other objection was there was no need to shift to Federalism to implement the recommendations of Araneta. They were in itself suitable for any form of government. It is true, because in the 1987 Constitution several of Araneta’s Bayanikasan Constitution proposals were already adopted. The problem is in the implementation or lack of it.
If under a Constitution that has guided us for several decades, provisions in the Constitution are being ignored and violated, what more under a Federal system of government that will be a complete stranger to most of us?
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has come up recently with an estimated cost for the shift to Federalism from a minimum of P156.6 billion to P253.5 billion! Isn’t this the most compelling reason to say “NO” to Federalism?
NEDA also suggests a 15-year transition period. Isn’t this a risky and dangerous proposition? (To be continued/PN)
