Rizal Philippines
July 18, 2018
Defects were noted and criticisms were raised in today's hearing on the proposed draft of federalism constitution at the Senate. Among those who spoke were Associate Justice Mendoza, Adolfo Azcuna, and Neri Colmenares. The former spoke about the transitory provisions and remandable rights of the citizen under the new provisions.
Neri Colmenares had cogent albeit stinging arguments vs the new proposed constitution:
1. New property rights to foreigners. This would make land unaffordable to many Filipino citizens as this
could cause price of land skyrocket and saying goodbye to land reform and food security; (x only lease is allowed)
2. Many new powers granted to the President: to use emergency powers even in case of cyber attacks, in case certain states do not follow the central govt. While federalism seem to distribute powers, it would make the President very powerful. While he promised to step down, nothing would seem to prevent him from running again.
Despite the proposed objective of democratizing power the states, on the contrary, the constitution and the provisional transitory provision would make the said office very powerful.
While the federalism aims to diffuse budget to the Visayas and Mindanao, current budgeting trends show the budget in those areas decreasing and central govt (NCR) increasing (50% of national taxes shall go to federated states)
3. There is spectre of Noel because of complications in timing, and term extensions of Senators (the term would be reduced to 4 years - horse trading with Senators?)
4. And above all, the new constitution prohibits its amendment in the future? WHAT? (Reading the draft proves this to be false)
Academicians and professionals are against the proposed charter change. SWS and Pulse Asia shows that there is no sense of urgency of those surveyed to go on cha cha nor for federalism...
2/3 Filipinos opposed to Chacha and Federalism
Catholic Prelate Against cha cha
May be next time. No forcing through please. People had enough of forcing through. PHL is not a city in Mindanao.
Salient provision of the draft federalism constitution. From Rappler
