Federalism going to provinces to inform public, dispel fears

DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya. Inquirer Photo/Dexter Cabalza

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) insists that the interpretation of the results of a recent survey showing that the majority of Filipinos do not support the proposal to shift to a federal system of government is “wrong.”

Assistant Interior Secretary Jonathan Malaya on Friday said that to the contrary, the Pulse Asia survey indicated that the majority of the survey respondents “were actually for federalism.”

Malaya said this was the reason why the DILG wanted to consolidate federalism’s gains by launching a nationwide campaign to inform the public about the system of government and to allay fears over Charter change.

According to the survey, conducted from March 23 to 28, 66 percent of Filipinos opposed replacing the present unitary system of government with a federal one.

Federalism in future

Of the 66 percent, 36 percent were against the federal system, regardless of the timing, while 30 percent said they were open to a shift to federalism in the future.

On the sidelines of a federalism forum with international experts in Makati City on Friday, Malaya said 57 percent were in favor of federalism—including the 30 percent who were not in favor for now.

“The challenge for the DILG is to persuade those 30 percent that right now is the perfect time to push for federalism. No other administration has put federalism as its front and center agenda as President Duterte,” he said.

He said the DILG’s nationwide road show would start in the second week of June.