Philosophical Research

Federalism is the answer of the Philippines Social Injustice

Yul Michael Allan A. Luza

A.B. English - IV
 Philippines is a geographical land that is divided by lands and bodies of water. We

countrymen are also divided by culture and tradition that may create conflicts and

complications in any aspects of life. It may be natural, economic, environmental, and spiritual

but all of these aspects can be affected in just one particular part the political aspect.

The Philippines is currently below a unitary structure of authorities, the

central authorities are the easiest governing power. Our independent regions, provinces,

municipalities and barangays can solely workout powers and enact policies that the

central government chooses to delegate to them and receives

large section of every region's income and redistributes it.

Firstly, under a federal government, states are empowered to make their own decisions.

They no longer want to count number on the central authorities to decide for them. Federalism

is essential to the Philippine context because of the full-size geographical and cultural variations

between areas-variations that central government may not constantly be able to cater to.

Federalism is a type of government wherein sovereignty is constitutionally divided

between the countrywide authorities and subdivision governments (such as states or

provinces). Federalism divides the us into a number of self-sufficient states with

a national government.

The self-sufficient states are even further divided into neighborhood authorities’ units.

They will have the essential responsibility over developingtheir neighborhood industries,
public health and safety, education, transportation, and culture. These states

have more power over their finances, policies, improvement plans, and laws.

In the past, the Philippines has had attempts at a reform towards a

federal device of government - at some stage in the administration of former President Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo, she endorsed federal decentralization as one of the dreams of the

proposed charter change. However, the try failed due to the fact opposition from a range

of sectors believes this reform was once used to extend her term limit.

President Rodrigo Duterte affords federalism as a viable answer to the

Mindanao conflict rather of implementing the Bangsamoro Basic Law. According to him,

"nothing short can bring peace in Mindanao.” This is probably a reference to

the numerous revisions the BBL has undergone, and the variety of years it has stayed in

Congress.

Do we really need a change of government system? Is really a federal form government

the answer? What to expect if the federalism is approve? Can it solve the social injustice in the

Philippines? Can it stop the never ending issue of territorial conflict from our Muslim brothers

and sisters? Can it change the principles of our fellow countrymen the New Democratic Front

(NPA) on what they are fighting for? Can it solve the corruption crawling every day in our

government? What will be its stand in criminality? Are we ready for a change of government?

All of these questions were the effect of “Social Injustice” that is present specifically on

places that were colonized like the Philippines. So I think the most closest and reliable
philosopher that will help and support what will be my stand on this topic will be John Rawls on

his “Theory of Justice.”

Federalism is an interesting topic in the Rawlsian point of view for the said reasons that

are simply from a play on words and Rawls’ theory is also universal in the sense that it leaves no

room for variation anywhere on earth in the principles it commends. Federal institutions are

justified primarily by considerations relating to liberty, the promotion of active citizenship, and

democracy.

Jonh Rawls always take particular component which will depend on the circumstances in

which people find themselves. According to John Rawls, “possesses an inviolability founded on

justice that even the welfare of society cannot override.” Rawls argues that “justice denies that

the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others.”

I do believe on what John Rawls point because even we do have freedom to do well but

the justice on making things right is not for us is useless. I can see the Theory of Justice of John

Rawls in the federal form of government in our country.

The Philippines will be divided into various states in a federal government that shall hold

autonomy by having a government of their own, and shall only be in constitutional accordance

with the central governing body during times when national defense or foreign policy is the

main concern.

The regional authorities will retain a larger portion of their income, and will only be

required to give a small part to the state government they fall under. For an instance, a regular
employee who pays a slather of tax monthly can now gain more from his or her honorarium

because the tax requirement will now be less than what he or she regularly pays.

We do really need a change of government system because Philippines is almost dying

but thanks to our present President Rodrigo Duterte who gives us the air of hope that we are

inhaling now. Philippines is under in a unitary state since the Spanish regime but the same

resistance that took place on that time who fought against the Spaniards are the resistance that

is existing up to now like the Moro’s and indigenous people.

Yes, Federalism is the answer. If the media of the Philippines will not blind us to see the

truth behind the political issues of our country then we can really realize that federal state is

the right form of government in the Philippines. I will cite an example, as a proud Iliganon our

city is rich in waterfalls that’s why Iligan City is called City of Waterfalls. Our city supplies energy

mostly in the entire region of Mindanao through hydropower plant of Maria Cristina Falls but

the problem is residents of Iligan City always question the high rate of electricity even our city

is the source of energy. The control of national government in the rate of electricity is the

source of problem and most of the residents didn’t know this situation. That’s why the social

injustice wakes up and only the federal state that will promote social justice in our city.

A federal system, such extra than a unitary system, will respond to the long-felt

demands of nearby political leaders and businessmen for their launch from the costly time-

consuming, stifling, and demoralizing effects of excessive centralization and controls by way

of the national authorities in the unitary system. The exceedingly decentralized structures

and procedure of the federation will challenge, empower and energize the people and

their country and neighborhood governments; inspire creativity, initiative, and

innovation, beautify the accountability of government leaders and employees, spur inter-state

competition, and foster state and neighborhood self-reliance.

The expectation of federalism is high because this is the form of government that our

President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing. As a president his words are very dramatic to take mostly

in the low level society for the reason that President Rodrigo Duterte is considered the

president of change. The Philippines is on the line of transition right now that expectations of

progress in our country is tickling our ears once we hear something good specially from the

foreign country on how they see Philippines right now.

I do believe that federalism will solve the social injustice in the Philippines. The social

injustice is the root of all conflicts in the Philippines. It started when we were colonized by

Spaniards who added another tradition, cultural belief in human form and stabilize the Roman

Catholic. This certain scenario created the social injustice in the hand of the Spaniards that

scarred the heart of Filipinos. But past is past we are now in the present day that give us the

opportunity to deal with change and that change is federalism. The federal state will give

opportunities to small town that their products are very opposite on the size of their town.

Federal state can stop the never ending issue of political conflict from our Muslim

brothers and sisters because the main concern in the proposed federal form is to solve the

issues of the conflict from our Muslim brothers and sisters because the government really

needs to ease the social injustice in our country. The Philippine government was also triggered

of the arising organization of ISIS that really happened in the Marawi City 1 year ago. To have

many closed Muslim friends and also Iligan City is the nearest neighboring city of Marawi City. I
can give you that social injustice is so very present on that area that Muslim rebel group can

easily recruit on that area. In federalism, it will weaken the recruitment of rebel groups and

gives hope for social justice because the distribution of power will not be even but will be

controlled.

Federalism will change the principles of our fellow countrymen the New Democratic

Front (NDF)/ (NPA) on what they are fighting for because it lingers on what their principles are,

to have justice in the society. Federal state will counter attack the oligarchs in their form of

politics in the unitary state and that what is NDF/NPA crying for the unfairness of the

government. As of today, we can still hear from the news the conflict of the NDF/NPA and the

government because of the proclamation of our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that they are

terrorists and considered by the U.S. government as a world terrorists. But the Philippine

government is still open for any negotiations from the NDF/NPA. As what I have saw and heard

in the news if the federal state will be approve they want a seat in the government.

Federal state will solve the corruption crawling every day in our government because it

will hinder the political power of politicians that cultivate his/her empowerment in national

level. Federalism gives certain area or a state the outcome of their own without the delegation

of any national level. So the political power will be address on what the certain state is capable

to do and it address to the people who is really on the power of what the state can say.

The Philippines has achieved sufficient countrywide team spirit and democratization,

including a measure of decentralization and neighborhood autonomy, as the foundation for

establishing a federal system of government. The latter will follow about a decade of
transition: by means of development via “regionalization” and larger nearby autonomy

involving each the countrywide authorities and the nearby governments; the private sector and

civil society.

The criminality will be surely lessened because the operation of the criminal that are

operating nationally will be cut off. Fighting criminality will not be easy but it will not be also

difficult if the concern citizens are aware and responsible on their obligations as a law abiding

citizen. The federal state is consists of states and each state will have the capability to tighten

up their law enforcement addressing the criminality. The movement of criminality will be

clearer because each state is focus on the living of their state but with love of country.

Are we ready for a change of a government? We have to be ready if we are aiming for a

real progress which the federalism is establishing institutional mechanisms making for social

trust among the different forces in society. The Philippines is craving for a success in any kind of

department which entails everything what are the Filipinos rooting for social justice. The

chance is already here and that is the Proposal of Federal State of Government. We are indeed

in the time of clamor for what the Philippines is really capable of.
 Concluding Remarks

Our beloved Philippines need the help of Filipinos to stop the social injustice that

is present today. All we can do is to support our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in pushing the

federal state of government and be aware of what is the truth and not be blinded by the media

that corrupting our mind. Federalism is a type of government wherein sovereignty is

constitutionally divided between the countrywide authorities and subdivision governments. We

do really need a change of government system because Philippines is almost dying but thanks

to our present President Rodrigo Duterte who gives us the air of hope that we are inhaling now.

Federalism is an interesting topic in the Rawlsian point of view “possesses an

inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society cannot override.” I do believe

on what John Rawls point because even we do have freedom to do well but the justice on

making things right is not for us is useless.

Yes, Federalism is the answer. I do believe that federalism will solve the social injustice

in the Philippines. The social injustice is the root of all conflicts in the Philippines. It started

when we were colonized by Spaniards who added another tradition, cultural belief in human

form and stabilize the Roman Catholic.

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