Unitary Form of government is not anymore responsive in addressing problems in philippimes both

nationally and locally.

In unitary form of government 60-40 is how financial viability is divided. Only 40% of the pooled
collection of national internal revenue taxes will be going to the local government unit through the
internal revenue allotment or IRA, while 60% going to the national government. But, in Federal form of
government 70-30 is how tax divided. 70% of their total earned income stays with them, while only 30%
goes back to the national government. This means that states are able to channel their own income for
their own development, creating policies and programme suitable for them without having to wait for
the national government to approve. So, within the 70% budget that remains with these states, 30% will
be funneled to the national government, and 70% will be allocated to the provinces, cities,
municipalities, and barangays.

Even President Duterte has described Metro Manila as "Imperial" and has even refused to stay at
Malacañang, saying that it is a symbol of oppression. A look at the 2016 national budget showed that
Metro Manila got 14.27% share with 428.5 billion, excluding the budget for the office of the President.
Office of the Vice President and Congress which ate based in the Capital Region. Meanwhile, Luzon got
20.94% with 628.3 billion. Visayas got 9.94% with the 298.3 billion, and Mindanao got 13.23% with
396.9 billion. As what assistant Professor Jan Robert Go, of the UP Diliman (Political Science) said, that
Budget and Fiscal autonomy has been considered to be a problem long time ago by the different local
leaders in the country. Thus, we need to adopt Federalism. Apparently one contention of it advocates is
that major tax revenues are turned over to the national government. The Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) collects national internal revenue taxes which include income tax, estate and donor's taxes value-
added tax, other percentage taxes, excise taxes, documentary stamp taxes, and such other taxes that
may be imposed and collected by the BIR.

The autonomous states are even further divided into local government units. They will have the main
responsibility over developing their local industries, public health and safety, education, transportation
and culture. The states have more power over their finances, policies, development plans and laws.

Under a Federal Government, states are empowered to make their own decisions. They no longer
need to rely on the central government to decide for them. This is important to note in the Philippine
context because of the vast geographical and cultural differences between regions- a difference that the
central government may not always be able to cater to. Right now, income tax law is tied to the central
government. Whatever their decisions are, the local government will just follow like a little dog. You get
my drift? This is what 60-40 and current government had done. Hence, when we try to compare the 60-
40 into 70-30 the big difference is there. The only solution to all of the problems that our country facing
right now is the shifting of the present form of government into Federalism. Like for instance, the
Inflation Rate that is currently happening right now. Imagine from 6.4% on August by just September it
increased into 6.7% and that according to the Philippine Statistics Authority and Ms. Lindsey Ice an
Economist. So when this kind of problem will continue to happen what do you think could happen to our
country particularly to the Filipino people? What do you think the possible consequences? Do you think
our present form of government can still come up and make a solution for all the problems and can still
provides all the needs of the community especially the Mindanaon people? Ofcourse not. The present
form of government that we have roght now cannot anymore solve the problems that we are facing.
And remember my dear debaters that one of the platforms of our current president is Federalism during
his campaign. He also believes that Federalism is the Only Solution to all the problems that our country
have. This is the Only Solution through Federalism the states can now manage their own finances for the
betterment of their states.

Ladies and gentlemen, imagine what we can achieve once Federalism is imposed. We, the affirmative
side, strongly believe of what Federalism can cater to us. For once more, let us be reminded by what
president Duterte said, "Change is coming!" This is the right tine for that change. That change starts
from the shift of government from Unitary to Federalism.