Marcos pushes for federalism to create ‘power centers’ across PH

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines has taken the “first step” towards a federal form of government that would make the country's political structure and political life “more stable.”

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. leads the oath taking of the new members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Photo by Yummie Dingding / PPA POOL

In his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of new members of his political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) in Malacañang, the President said the seemingly federal set-up would continue by bringing more power centers to other parts of the country.

“That is very simple. That derives a very simple idea that the stability of a political structure is much more reliable when we have many power centers. If the power centers only belong here in Manila, then pabagsakin mo 'yung Manila, bagsak ang buong Pilipinas (if Manila falls, the entire Philippines would fall),” Marcos told his partymates.

“But with the power centers being given to the local governments, to the local districts, and to those operating at the local level and thereby bringing those power centers to many many places, it makes for a more stable political structure and makes a more stable political life,” he added.

Marcos also said that the decision-making in the government should be made at the lowest level as possible, saying that governors and congressmen should be allowed to decide since they know the situation on the ground.

“What we are talking about here is federalism, and what we have started to do, kahit (even) in all but name, ang ginagawa ay talagang ibinibigay ang discretion, ang power, ang function, hangga't maaari, sa pinaka mababa na level na maari nating gawin. So we are doing the first step of the federal government for the Philippines, in all but name,” he said.

“There has to be a central tenet and central principle to what we are doing. And we are talking here about federalism. What we have started to do, in all but name, ang ating ginagawa ay talagang ibinibigay ang discretion, ang power, ang function, hangga't maaari sa pinakamababang level na maaari nating gawin (is really give the discretion, the power, the function, as much as possible, to the lowest level as much as we can),” he added.