Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

The Association of South East Asian Nation or simply ASEAN community started when
five Southeast Asian leaders decided to form a union to foster the bond within their respective
nations.

Among these five southeast Asian countries were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,
Thailand and our very own, Philippines. Based from what I searched on the internet, ASEAN
integration played a vital role in strengthening the socio-economic status of the said countries,
and of course, Philippines too. But over the past years, a lot more of the countries, have also
joined the ASEAN Union, this includes Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and
Cambodia.

The primary goal of the said integration is to promote intergovernmental cooperation, and
facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and sociocultural growth among its
members and other countries in Asia.

From this, it actually picked my interest, because I am actually not a politically literate
person, so then I continued searching about it, to learn more about the relations of our country to
other Asian countries and maybe even around the world.

Additionally, according to the website, called First Academy of Computer Arts, the ASEAN
union aims to help strengthen and stabilize each country’s economic growth and development.

We could say that this is a mutual benefit for both countries, it actually makes sense,
because just like practically, a person couldn’t live and grow by themselves, we also need other
people so we could easily and effectively improve. Just like how each country needs each other
for beneficial and friendly relations purposes whether be it for economic growth, socio-cultural
development, and even political-security purposes.

I was also impressed how the member countries of this union supports each other in the
prevention of rampant piracy, terrorism and drug trafficking. On the other note, it also aims for
more job opportunities, more investors to develop industries, promote social responsibilities in
times of disaster and more opportunities for education.

It made me realize the obvious fact that whenever our country experience natural calamity
disasters, other countries are ready to send help to the victims like goods, food and clothing. It’s
not just because of an initiatively kind nearby countries, but it’s also because of the union our
country had with them.
Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

Based from the facts above, we could actually come up with a lot of advantages of the
ASEAN integration, but let me just focus on few important ones.

It is important to understand that the Association of South East Asian Nation is not just a
mere organization for leaders to get together and make merry, ASEAN union is about the
betterment of the people and the economy.

One of its advantage is for people to have an easier and cheaper travel options. The
ASEAN includes the benefit that citizens can enjoy of improved air, sea and land travel. It is
relieving how helpful it is for us, because there are now VISA-free countries like Cambodia,
Indonesia and Malaysia.

It is a good feeling knowing preparing for travels abroad will be less hassle and effort since
application and processing of VISA takes times and lots of effort. Sometimes, we could even
encounter problems while processing it but thanks to ASEAN, we could now visit the VISA-free
countries stated above, for a cheaper and easier travel.

Second advantage of ASEAN union aside from cheaper, better and easier travel options
is cheaper goods and services for citizens. Since tax on imported goods from ASEAN members
are lower or even sometimes eliminated. According to Mayor John Rey Tianco, “A fully-
implemented ASEAN Economic Community could mean lower taxes and tariffs for imported
goods and this, in turn, could lead to lower cost of living and a greater purchasing power for us.”

I felt glad knowing we could enjoy imported products for a cheaper, and even tax-free
price.

The third advantage of ASEAN union is of course, more and better job opportunities for
everyone. It actually makes sense that with cheaper and easier travels, lower goods and services
cost, it will also come with more and better job opportunities for citizens in one country to apply
for other member countries of the union. They also said that one of ASEAN’s goals it to decrease
the unemployment and underemployment across the region.

As a future nurse, it is actually beneficial that there are other opportunities for us overseas
without the problem of thinking of travel fees, services fees and job opening since due to ASEAN,
many doors have opened for people of all professions.

Aside from jobs, ASEAN union also gives more study options for everyone. Filipinos would
have more access to better jobs if first, they are better equipped for these emerging roles.
Thankfully, even the country’s education would be enhanced because of ASEAN integration. For
Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

instance, last August 2017, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs announced in the Association of
South East Asian Nation regional forum in Manila that they would be offering a ten-million-dollar
scholarship program to support post-secondary students and mid-career professionals from
Southeast Asia. The National University in Singapore offers scholarship for ASEAN countries for
graduate coursework. These are only a few of the examples of quality international support for
Filipino students.

This means, us students could have a peace of mind, knowing how our country’s
educational system kept on growing and improving due to the help of other countries, because of
the ASEAN integration.

And lastly, the ASEAN integration contributes to the advancement of the Philippines as a
whole. Because of the incredible support from other Southeast Asian nations, the country is better
prepared for globalization. With the Filipino’s way of life eventually improved, it will be no surprise
if the economy contains to perform well in the next few years.

It is also stated that the ASEAN is one of the many reasons why our country, Philippines
is in a good and stable pace and potential investors, businessmen, and its citizens need not to
worry about the country’s stability.

Us Filipino’s should feel proud and grateful that it is building strong ties with other ASEAN
members. Each step taken ASEAN is another step taken closer to a better and a more stable
economy. Whether it be for travel, goods and services, education and work opportunities.

All in all, having the ASEAN union gives assurance and peace for citizens that the country
will prosper for a longer time.

Being a digital artist, it also gives me more chance for a better work to share my talent
around the ASEAN countries and even outside of it.

Aside from the remarks I added on all the above statements, I would also like to add that
our current president Rodrigo Duterte, should focus in strengthening the bonds of our country to
other ASEAN member countries, since mostly, the ASEAN benefits are only for economic prosper
and trade, but least on military and security alliances which our country greatly need.
Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

FEDERALISM

After the ASEAN union and its advantages, next will be about federal form of government.
First of all, let us define what is federalism. Federalism is a type of government in which the power
is divided between the national government and other governmental units. It contrasts with a
unitary government, in which a central authority holds the power, and a confederation, in which
states, for example are clearly dominant.

Though our country’s main type of government is democratic, our current President
Rodrigo Duterte, is pursuing to change the form of government through federalism. Today, our
government is unitary, meaning all the power and government rights is within a centralized
government. One aspect of this is the funds from different regions will all be sent towards the
centralized government, and then all the budgets will be again distributed to different regions
based on the standard stated by the government.

In federalism, the governmental power will be divided between the National Federal
Government and the Local State Government. Meaning, our country, Philippines will be separated
into many different states. For example, northern Luzon will be a separate state from central
Luzon, and so on with other regions in the country. The states will maintain 80% of their funds
and budgets to themselves while the remaining 20% will go to the National Federal Government.
30% from the 80% will go to the local state government, while the 70% will go to the provinces,
cities, municipalities and the barangays. Each state will have their own elected senators and
councils.

My stand whether I approve federalism or not, I would say I stand in between. I look at it
into an objective point of view. Since there are pros and cons for it.

Like for example, if the budget is within the states, the release of budget will be faster and
easier, hence, production and improvement of infrastructures will be faster, and would lead to an
increase in the speed of improvement per region. Corruption will also be lessened because there
will be fewer middlemen in the government.

There will also be a greater focus to be given in local government, since the leaders of
each state will easily prioritize, what their own state needs, and it will be addressed easier and
faster.

But, of course, due to it, there will be a lot of states all around the Philippines, there will be
harder communication between states and the National Federal Government because there will
Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

be more numbers of state governments, for the upper hand to handle. It will also increase local
political dispute, because the budget will be handled by the local government.
Running head: REACTION PAPER (ASEAN INTEGRATION AND FEDERALISM)

References

Admin. (2014, June 17). What is the ASEAN Integration? Retrieved from First Academy
Computer Arts: http://firstacademy.net/asean-integration/
Affairs, G. P. (2019, May 30). Stand for Truth: Federalism 101.
EastVantage. (2017, November). 5 Advantages of ASEAN Integration in the Philippines.
Retrieved from eastvantage: https://www.eastvantage.com/insights/5-advantages-
asean-integration-philippines
Studios, P. S. (2016, April 08). Ano ba ang Federalismo? (What is Federalism). Retrieved from
Youtube Plainly Simple Studios.