Duterte to lead launch of federalism info drive

“The President has expressed himself that he will be personally present at the opening salvo of the information drive,” Medialdea said. RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte will lead the opening salvo of the information and advocacy campaign on the draft Federalism Constitution crafted by the Consultative Committee (ConCom), Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said over the weekend.

Medialdea made this remark during the ConCom’s 18th and final en banc session at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last August 18 (Saturday).

He said the Chief Executive bared this during his meeting with former Chief Justice and ConCom Chairman Reynato Puno, and former Senate President and ConCom member Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. last Wednesday (August 15) to discuss the information drive.

“The President has expressed himself that he will be personally present at the opening salvo of the information drive,” Medialdea said.

Duterte earlier tapped Medialdea and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque to lead the inter-agency task force to promote federalism which will be composed of officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and ConCom.

Medialdea, meanwhile, thanked the 22-member ConCom for making “an indelible mark in history” by drafting a new Constitution which will allow the shift to a federalism system of government within six months.

“With only six months to craft a draft constitution that will faithfully capture the present will and mandate of the people, the committee faced a formidable task,” Medialdea said.

“Today I am proud and confident to say that the 22-member committee whom the President handpicked himself did not disappoint,” he added.

Medialdea described the ConCom’s Federal Constitution as “a draft that echoes many of the proposed changes that large sectors of society have been clamoring for these past years.”

According to Medialdea, the Constitution of any nation, no matter how revered, should be a living document “open to change.”

Honored

In its final en banc session, the ConCom also passed a resolution expressing gratitude to the President for the opportunity to draft the Federal Constitution.

“We are all honored to have been chosen by the President to review the 1987 Constitution and suggest the necessary changes to effectuate our shift from a unitary to a federal for of government,” Puno said in his speech.

Puno acknowledged that the draft is “not perfect”, but stressed that it was prepared with “patriotism.”

According to Puno, the second stage of their efforts now lies in informing the public about the benefits of federalism in the country.

“It is our job to end the suspension of the belief on federalism whose and end all be all is the people’s welfare. More specifically, we should tell the people that Federalism will end the culture of undue dependence on the central government,” Puno said.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said at present, the inter-agency’s communication plan is “still being finalized” but a federalism jingle is expected to be launched anytime soon.

A total of PHP90 million was allocated by government for the federalism campaign. Of this amount, PHP10 million will go to the PCOO, which will be tasked to produce information drive materials.