7 Ways Federalism will bring prosperity to Filipinos

This shows why anti-federalists are enemies of progress.

Photo by Eugenio Pastoral on Unsplash

Recently, the International Monetary Fund released in 2019 GDP growth forecast. Unsurprisingly, the Philippines made it to the Top 10 as one of the fastest growing major economies in the world.

Ethiopia — a country with a federal-parliamentary form of government — tops the list at 8.5% growth rate.

Now, just imagine how much economic progress we can attain if we shift to federal-parliamentary system:

1. Philippine regions will become self-sustaining and will be compelled by healthy competition to improve on their economic policies.
2. Each region will have its vibrant economic centers just like Germany, providing opportunities to a greater number of Filipinos.
3. Economic development will become more spread out. This is in contrast to the current set-up that we have where progress is mostly concentrated in Metro Manila.
4. With the development of other regions, Metro Manila will be decongested and relieved from the traffic situation it has today. Filipinos will not need to flock to the metropolis in search of job opportunities because decentralization will empower regions and allow them to provide opportunities for their citizens.
5. Federalism will address our diversity, enriching all cultures in the country instead of the current cultural hegemony imposed by the Tagalogs. This system also addresses our geographic reality as an archipelago.
6. Long lasting peace in Mindanao may be achieved. Federalization was a key factor that paved way to peace between the English Canadians and French Canadians.
7. Federalism will bring the government closer to the people. For one, a local Masbateño knows better what their community needs. Why must they defer to the decision of someone who resides in Manila?

These are just some of the benefits of federalism. Parliamentary system has its own advantages which require a separate post.

As we can see, it makes no sense to oppose Duterte’s proposal to shift to a federal state. Anti-federalists are enemies of progress.