Campaign for federalism to be intensified by gov't
Published Jun 28, 2018 03:19 pm
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government intends to intensify its public information campaign about federalism after a survey showed majority of Filipinos remained unaware about the proposal.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said they expect the consultative commission assigned to review the 1987 Constitution to step up the information drive on the proposed federal system.
Government agencies are also urged to raise public awareness about the federalism, which the administration hopes would unleash the growth potential of other regions in the country.
"Apparently, the information drive is not enough. We’ll need to work harder given that the shift to federalism is the cornerstone of the Duterte administration," Roque said during a Palace news conference.
"Everyone in government ‘no should exert more effort in popularizing, number one, the need to shift to a federal form of government, its advantages to the people and its effect on the everyday lives of the common people," he said.
In the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted last March, 25 percent of Filipino adults were aware of the federal system while 75 percent only learned about it in the survey.
The survey also showed 37 percent of the respondents agreed with federal system, 29 percent disagreed, and 34 percent were undecided. The figures resulted to a net agreement score of +7 which is classified as neutral.
Roque admitted that the survey results were somehow expected since the commission led by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno has not yet completed its review of the proposed changes in the Constitution.
He said the public must be still waiting for the output of the commission about the details of the proposal federal system.
"At ngayong patapos na sila, talaga namang kasama po sa mandato nila iyong dissemination ‘no at kung bakit sila nagpo-propose ng ganitong mga pagbabago ," he said.
"Inaasahan natin na iyong susunod naman na yugto ng buhay ng komisyon na ‘yan ay iyong pagpapakalat ‘no kung ano iyong mga pagbabago at ano iyong benepisyo sa taumbayan ," he said.
President Duterte has vigorously proposed a shift to a federal form of government to spur development in the countryside. He also believed that federalism would also bring peace and development in Mindanao long troubled with poverty and insurgency.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said they expect the consultative commission assigned to review the 1987 Constitution to step up the information drive on the proposed federal system.
Government agencies are also urged to raise public awareness about the federalism, which the administration hopes would unleash the growth potential of other regions in the country.
"Apparently, the information drive is not enough. We’ll need to work harder given that the shift to federalism is the cornerstone of the Duterte administration," Roque said during a Palace news conference.
"Everyone in government ‘no should exert more effort in popularizing, number one, the need to shift to a federal form of government, its advantages to the people and its effect on the everyday lives of the common people," he said.
In the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted last March, 25 percent of Filipino adults were aware of the federal system while 75 percent only learned about it in the survey.
The survey also showed 37 percent of the respondents agreed with federal system, 29 percent disagreed, and 34 percent were undecided. The figures resulted to a net agreement score of +7 which is classified as neutral.
Roque admitted that the survey results were somehow expected since the commission led by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno has not yet completed its review of the proposed changes in the Constitution.
He said the public must be still waiting for the output of the commission about the details of the proposal federal system.
"At ngayong patapos na sila, talaga namang kasama po sa mandato nila iyong dissemination ‘no at kung bakit sila nagpo-propose ng ganitong mga pagbabago ," he said.
"Inaasahan natin na iyong susunod naman na yugto ng buhay ng komisyon na ‘yan ay iyong pagpapakalat ‘no kung ano iyong mga pagbabago at ano iyong benepisyo sa taumbayan ," he said.
President Duterte has vigorously proposed a shift to a federal form of government to spur development in the countryside. He also believed that federalism would also bring peace and development in Mindanao long troubled with poverty and insurgency.