Vice President Leni Robredo. File photo by ARNOLD ALMACEN/Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday that federalism might not be the right solution to the country’s problems.
In a speech before the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), Robredo said federalism, in fact, would raise more questions than answers and might be “too drastic a remedy” that the country would not be ready for.
She pointed out that the Duterte administration remained unclear on the form of federalism that it would want to have for the nation.
“In pursuing drastic solutions, we must proceed cautiously and intelligently, without losing sight of people’s interests,” she said.
For her, the current presidential form of government remained the most viable for the country.
Strengthening government structures and adopting principled public service would make the current form of government effectively address the country’s myriad of problems, she said.
This was the first time that Robredo made her stand on federalism known, after saying earlier that she was still studying one of the campaign promises and priority policies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Robredo made her visit to quake-hit Surigao City as an example on why she thought federalism would not be feasible for the country, even if it could promise a more equitable wealth distribution, as its proponents claim.
The members of the House of Representatives, dominated by the President’s allies, have already agreed to convene Congress into a constitutional assembly that would amend the 1987 Constitution.
“A successful federal government is dependent on certain factors: that LGUs have the capacity and competence to handle so much authority and that systems of patronage do not dominate politics on the local level,” Robredo said.
But said said there were questions that needed to be answered to ensure that federalism would effect positive change in the country.
“But the tougher and more sensible questions are these: Is federalism the only way the Philippines can save itself? Is the Philippines ready for federalism? Can the constitutional assembly be trusted to act in the people’s best interests?” she said. /atm