Federalism is like strengthening our country as a family – Mandanas

TRUE FEDERALISM. Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, chair of the Calabarzon Regional Development Council (RDC), says during the RDC Executive Committee press conference at Hotel Marciano in Calamba City on July 17, 2018 that the start of true Federalism is the strengthening of the local autonomy that promotes efficient, economical and expedient governance among the Local Government Units (LGUs). (Photo by Saul Pa-a, PNA)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Contrary to what some quarters claim that federalism would lead to disunity, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, chair of the Calabarzon Regional Development Council (RDC), compared the federal form of government to a big Filipino family.

“The essence ng federal system is not independence, that’s why some quarters are confused, because we are giving them greater autonomy,” Mandanas stressed during Tuesday’s press conference at the Hotel Marciano function hall on Real Road in this city.

He said the analogy finds tradition in a family, where a son or daughter who is married or even a single sibling who lives separately in another abode is not entirely independent but is still part of one big family.

“Sa Tagalog pa, hindi tayo nagkakahiwa-hiwalay, nakakawatak-watak, kundi nag-bubukod-bukod lamang. Ibig sabihin sa isang bilao, may tig-iisang parte tayo, isang lugar, pero kabahagi pa rin tayo (In the Tagalog dialect, we are not scattered or divided permanently, but we form as parts to the whole system. This means, we have a share in the large woven tray, a place, but we are still part of the whole),” the Batangas governor said.

Mandanas, who presided over the Calabarzon RDC Executive Committee Meeting on Tuesday, gave insights on the Supreme Court ruling issued July 3, 2018 – which granted his lead petition for the automatic release of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to the country’s local government units (LGUs) their fair share of the Constitutionally-mandated national taxes from the National Government.

“This is the start of true Federalism. Strengthening the local autonomy is the essential element of true Federalism,” Mandanas underscored especially that the approach would promote efficient, economical and expedient governance among the LGUs.

He also explained that under the present setup, the country already embraces the concept of a federal system as a simple sharing of power and responsibilities between a central government and local governments.

“Ang unitarian or centralized yun lahat ang gagawa, pero tayo federal na tayo, kaya nga lang yun namang may President o may Prime Minister is not an issue of federal government or on whether we have a Parliament or Congress,” he said.

He also brushed aside debates on the federal president’s term of four or six years because this is not an element of whether our government is federal or unitary system, citing that “the essential element that makes a system of government federal is that there is a central government and autonomous units.”

“Actually what is not practiced in this federal concept is the responsibility and services that both central and autonomous units are doing because while the services are decentralized and devolved to the LGUs, the budget meant for the LGUs is not provided,” he said.

Mandanas underscored that in the federal form of government, the primary importance is the sharing of power and responsibility through greater autonomy given by the central government to the local autonomous government units.

“Yung health, na devolve na yan, yung pagamot ng dengue, pero ang gamot at ang may pera na pambili ng gamot like Dengvaxia is the central office pa rin (For instance health, this was devolved already, pero the dengue vaccine, and the budget to purchase this vaccine like Dengvaxia is still with the central office),” he said citing the barangay health center, farm to market-roads, agricultural services that would have been discharged by the LGUs at their level since the devolution and decentralization began.

“If we really devolve the services and funds then we are really observing the federal system. Kaya ang kailangan lang natin, (what we really need are) amendments in the Constitution for the full implementation,” he pointed out.

He said that implementing the Supreme Court decision is a major step towards federalism, which brings about more transparency, reduces corruption, and the various services would be done faster.

“Hindi na luluhod sa central government and mga LGUs para humingi ng awa (the LGUs no longer have to beg from the central government (for funds),” he recalled mentioning the case of an earthquake that struck Batangas province in April 2017 where its island town of Tingloy has not received the aid until now.

“Let’s amend the law, dahil sa Constitution ngayon, ang pwede lang ang taxing power ng local ay kung ano lang ang sabihin ng central government (because our present Constitution provides that the taxing power for local (government units) depends on the dictates of the central government),” Mandanas said.

He proposed under a federal form of government the tax empowerment among LGUs instead of just getting their share of the national taxes because LGUs know where these funds should be earmarked at their level.

Mandanas, who also chairs the Committee on Federalism of the League of Provinces, shared some misgivings by the local governments because in terms of national wealth, most of the natural resources such as oil, mining, forestry, fisheries and agriculture are derived from the localities yet the LGUs only get a minimal share of the revenues.

“Let’s go for amendment to the Constitution and give the local government the power to tax,” he urged, saying these needed revenues will redound to the benefit of the local constituents as “the essence of federalism is getting closer to the people directly.”

He is leaving it up to Congress to decide on whether amending the Constitution would be through a constitutional convention, constituent assembly or through a people’s initiative.

“Huwag na nating pangunahan sila, hindi na tayo makikilahok. Maganda pag-aralan nating mabuti at pagdating ng plebisito, doon tayo makikialam (let’s not interfere with the work of Congress. Rather, it is good to study it (Constitutional amendments) well and when the time comes for a plebiscite, then that’s where we can participate in),” Mandanas urged.

He also believed that the federal system of government institutes a more transparent and expeditious way of addressing corruption, contrary to what critics believe will breed corruption down the line.

“As we localize, mas madali ang (it’s expeditious for) check and balance in terms of addressing corruption.

Our leaders should be taught good governance especially the young breed of leaders to avoid corruption. Kailangan maka-Diyos, maka-tao, makabayan ka (what is needed is that they should be God-fearing, pro-people and pro-country) to avoid corruption,” he said.

He said that local-level corruption if any, could be easily spotted because constituents are now vigilant and they could check and verify since the concept of autonomy makes it more transparent, efficient and expedient.

He opined that the definition of the state should not necessarily be by region, as this could be by province or highly urbanized city or a combination based on the will of the people, although other provinces or regions are amenable to the grouping like the Bicol Region or in Mindanao, where there are cultural communities and indigenous peoples.

“It should be natural, traditional according to the people’s wishes and aspirations just like what the other countries are doing and just like in business, there is synergy and good governance to accelerate development,” Mandanas said.