#1: Manufacturing Parties: Re-examining
The Americans courted the Filipino
the Transient Nature of Philippine Political
Parties
The nature of Philippine political parties is
rooted in American political institutions in
the context of an iniquitous economic
structure sustained by a culture of
patronage. Elections have become an
avenue for social exchange between
patrons and their clients in the Philippines.
Political parties in PH
Political parties serve as an institutional
representation of the patrons’ networks of
clients and the alliances they have
established at the municipal, provincial, and
national levels.
Patron-client relations in PH
Relationship between patrons and clients in
the Philippines is characterized less by
mutual benefits and more by coercive force.
Privileged groups receive support due to
fear of vengeance rather than rewards
offered. Patron client politics persisted even
during the nominal independence in 1946.
The elites have focused on their socio-
economic dominance.
Two things that have went against the
patron-client relations:
1. The Japanese weakening influence of
elites
2. Different types of social cleavage which
challenged masses’ loyalty
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft leaned towards co-
opting the Filipino elite through
dispensation of economic and political
favors.
economic elite through the “paper title
system” which legitimized their ownerships.
Partido Federal
The first Filipino political party is the Partido
Federal which was founded to convince the
locals that the resistance to American rule
was futile. It was formed on December 23,
1900, and delegates include Pedro Paterno.
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera was the party
president.
Anti-Sedition Law of 1901
The Anti-Sedition Law of 1901 suppressed
any political grouping that sought to
organize the peasantry or the working class.
Institutional analysis on PH political
environment
1. Political actors were unable to form
parties around political cleavages due to
executive office’s structure
2. Underdevelopment of the left due to the
Anti-Sedition Law of 1901
3. Political parties had weak internal
organizations
Martial Law
Marcos’ Martial Law was considered a dark
time for political parties. Marcos subjected
the Philippine polity under dictatorship for
14 years. Marcos had centralized political
power and did not allow political parties
that represented regional or ethnic
interests. Marcos used regional parties as it
forced provincial warlords to devote some
of their attention and resources to local
rivalries which prevented them from
attacking the central government.
1987 constitution
A commission of 50 legal and political
experts crafted a new charter. In the 1987
constitution, the President of the
Philippines was to be selected through a
plurality system which is also used in
electing members of the senate while the
lower house was determined through a
single-member plurality system. Twenty
percent of the lower house is selected
through a party system under this
constitution.
Media in politics
Cesar Cala noted that the persuasive
powers of the clans have now been
transplanted by the enticing power of the
media apparatus. There are politicians who
used to be actors, basketball players and tv
hosts. An example of this is Joseph Estrada,
who won the presidency seat and Noli de
Castro who won as vice president.
Institutional analysis on instability of post-
authoritarian parties
1. Dominance of exec department
2. “Synchronized” voting
3. Party List System Act “caping” number of
seats a party may win
#2 WHY ASIA’S OLDEST DEMOCRACY IS
BOUND TO FAIL
POST 1986- PHILIPPINES
 After two decades of suffering under
Ferdinand Marcos’ authoritarian and
corrupt regime, the Filipinos found
hope and sought for change during
the turning point that is The People
Power Revolution of 1986.
 It paved the way for the return of
“procedural-electoral” democracy in
the country
 While things have changed to a
more democratic state, the changes
towards building the country into
one that is as developed as the West
had already achieved is evidently
hadn’t gone anywhere, at least no
one considered truly substantial
 This is why scholars would often call
out the post-1986 democracy that is
praised by many as a turn for the
better for the Philippines, as nothing
more than a “defective democracy”
TERMS TO DESCRIBE POST 1986 PH
 Cacique Democracy
 Oligarchic Democracy
 Low-intensity Democracy
 Elite Democracy
 Dominance of “Strong men” or
Bossism
MAX WEBER CONCEPTUALIZE A STATE AS:
 HERRSCHAFTSVERBAND
- An institutionalized rule
structure that as ability to rule
authoritatively
 GEWALTMONOPOL
- To legitimately control the
means of violence
FIVE KEY FEATURES OF STATE-SOCIETY
RELATIONSHIP
 Nature of Elite Class
 Electoral and Representative Politics
 Civil Society
  Political Economy
 Internal Security
THE NATURE OF PHILIPPINE ELITE CLASS
After the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos, all
it did was redefine who is and isn't part of
the national elites. Bossism or Boss is put
into play here, where local power brokers
gained monopolistic control of coercive and
economic resources within their own
territory. John Sidel argues that rather than
national elites, it is the local elites and
political clans that dominate the country.
FIRST PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
 February 22-25, 1986
 Remove President Ferdinand Marcos
from office
 Successful
SECOND PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
 January 17–20, 2001
 Remove President Joseph Estrada
from office
 Successful, but criticized
THIRD PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
 April 25 to May 1, 2001
 Remove President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo from office
 Unsuccessful
ELECTORAL POLITICS
The persistence of political families, and not
principle-based political parties, was one of
the most enduring features of the
Philippine Congress. The End of Marcos'
dictatorship created new cadres of political
and economic cronies, and the
reemergence of the powerful clans he tried
to crush. Democracy became a "game",
particularly suited for the big elites whom
the game was designed for.
STRATEGIES USED TO ADOPT IN THE
MODERN CLIMATE TO MAINTAIN POWER
 Establishment and maintenance of
Kinship network
 Organization of political machines
 Mobilization of wealth and property
 Access to state resources
 Use of violence and coercion
 Cultivation of issues, image,
popularity
CIVIL SOCIETY
When the 1987 constitution guaranteed the
adherence to political and civil rights, many
non-government organizations (NGOs) and
civil society groups emerged. NGOs had not
increased the prospects of democracy and
is instead ironically infected by the
pervasive patron-client system than it
aimed to subvert. Quimpo argues that the
problematic "contested democracy" in the
Philippines requires a dramatic paradigm
shift.
NATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
two key problems that are a hindrance
towards economic development despite the
post-1986 electoral democracy
- Agrarian Reform
- Sharpening Materials
Inequalities
Marcos used the existence of perverse
security threats from rebel groups (leftwing
and Muslim rebels) in order to justify
martial law in the early 1970s.
McCoy (2009) traces the origin of
oppressive police power of the state
starting from the American occupation,
which is still prevalent to this day.
The incapacity of the police power to
resolve endemic security problems hinders
economic growth and development.
PHILIPPINE DEMOCRACY: A CHAOTIC
CIRCUS
The great tragedy of Philippine politics will
undeniably happen again. The promised
massed-based democracy of post-1986 is
merely an illusion, as was just another way
for the capital-elites to take advantage of
the weak state for their personal gain. The
electoral politics and the commercial
sphere are ruled by the same constellation
of capitalist elites.
#3 PHILIPPINE POLITICAL PARTIES,
ELECTORAL SYSTEM, POLITICAL REFORM
The most important characteristic of
Philippine political parties being parties of
the elite.
- Old Boy’s Club
- Retainers of Elites
NATIONAL ELITES
Families who have attained a level of wealth
and status are practically immune from the
vicissitudes of political fortune
DISTINCT CHARCTERISTICS OF PHILIPPINE
POLITICS
 Shifting character of membership
and leadership
 The absence of ideological or
programmatic differences between
parties
One of the main explanations for this
pattern of differentiation in the elite is the
underdeveloped and dependent character
of the economy through most of the last
century.
This state of economic underdevelopment
meant that elites tended to be mainly local
elites.
KEY DIMENSIONS OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS:
 Weak state
- No class has been strong enough
to bend the state to its will
- The class fractions competing for
demands on government have
made it impossible to develop
political institutions capable of
providing a reliable regulatory
framework for the economy.
 A particular pattern of local-central
government relations
- The Philippines' unitary and
presidential form of government
is, by most measures, a
centralized government
- No dominant ruling class behind
it and has been either formally
or informally dominated by
foreign powers
It has historically been a weak body.
ELECTORAL PROCESS mid-term elections, but during
presidential election years, everyone
The current electoral system, established in
is elected at the same time.
the 1987 constitution, has the following
characteristics: Local government officials (governors,
provincial councils, municipal and city
 FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE
mayors, municipal and city councils) are
PRESIDENT
elected to three-year terms, with a three-
- The President shall not be
term limit
eligible for any re-election. No
person who has succeeded as Elections for barangay government, the
President and has served as such lowest level of government roughly
for more than four years shall be corresponding to rural villages and urban
qualified for election to the same neighborhoods are held separately.
office at any time.
WAYS OF COUNTING OF VOTES BEFORE:
- No Vice-President shall serve for
Precint – Municipal – Province – COMELEC
more than two successive terms
- (Article VII) COMISSIONS ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC)
 THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE IS
A constitutionally mandated, independent
BICAMERAL
body. Although it is supposed to be an
- The Lower house or House of the
independent body, the COMELEC is
Representatives
invariably accused of being pro
o 200 representatives
administration in nearly every election.
elected in single-member
"Guns, goons, and gold" Tag as "flying
district constituencies for
voter" "Cheating is a well-developed art in
three-year terms
Philippine elections. "
o Representatives are
limited to three terms, - Parties are required to register
o Plus, sectoral with the COMELEC with a
representatives are verified petition with
appointed by the attachments including a
President. constitution, by-laws, platform,
- The Upper House or The Senate and such other information as
o 24-member Senate has may be required by the
senators elected for six- COMELEC.
year terms nationally - Parties are required to have
o Half elected every three chapters in a majority of regions,
years; senators are and within each region, a
limited to two terms. majority of provinces, down to
Senators, congressmen, and local towns and barangays.
government officials are elected in

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS
The Philippine president appoints a large
number of people in the bureaucracy, over
a hundred thousand positions by some
estimates.
Congresspersons are adept at allocating
themselves large amounts of pork barrel.
- The ability of a president to
allocate rewards to provincial
factions is, at the same time,
one of the main factors limiting
the strength and long-term
growth of a party's power.
- While the majority party can
control leadership in both
houses, opposition
congresspersons who have long
experience in Congress tend to
have powerful committee
chairmanships. Negotiation on
policy issues of national
significance, more often than
not, cut across party lines.
PARTY SYSTEM
MUNICIPAL – PROVINCIAL – NATIONAL –
DIRECTORATE
The party candidate for president and the
key national players in the party have the
most say in candidate selection down to
local candidates.
 The synchronized national and local
elections mandated by the 1987
Constitution
 The increasing importance of money
in elections.
The importance of these elements varies
from national to local candidates:
 For national candidates, it is
generally accepted that if the
presidential candidate comes from
Luzon and its Tagalog speaking
population
 The vice-presidential candidate has
to come from the Visayas and its
Cebuano speaking people.
 Popularity, increasingly determined
by performance in surveys, is more
important for national than local
candidates.
 For local candidates, clan/family
connections are very important.
Stronger parties see less need for parallel
organizations targeting sectoral
organizations, preferring instead to win
over leaders of these organizations with
bribes and favors.
PARTY FINANCES
To win Philippine elections, candidates have
to spend thrice:
 To get nominated
 To garner votes
 To get his votes counted, added to,
and those of his opponents
subtracted.
Elections Funds are either:
 Legitimate money- comes from
businesses, especially from Chinese
businessmen who "are more
politically vulnerable and more
prone to use cash to buy certain
favors and business advantages.
  Grey money - comes from the system has been enshrined in the 1935,
operators of illegal economic 1973, and 1987 constitutions.
activities, gambling, smuggling,
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
prostitution, and drugs.
The emergence of institutions such as
POLITICAL REFORM
constitutional law, the secret ballot, the
(KIMORA, 1990) referendum, political parties, and the
legislature was a product of American
 Even where the traditional structure
colonialism. First election in the country
has disintegrated, a new structure
was held in Baliwag, Bulacan in May 1898
that is conducive to class-based
under American supervision. This was
politics has not yet developed
followed by four Cavite municipalities, in
sufficiently.
compliance with General Order No. 40,
 This is reflected in the fact that only
Series of 1900.
a relatively small portion of the
peasants and workers are organized, PREWAR PERIOD IN THE PHILIPPINES
and the unorganized peasants and
 The first legislative election was held
workers are not generally
on 30 July 1907 and was
sympathetic to peasant and labor
administered under the first General
candidates.
Election Law of the Philippines (Act
 Poverty-stricken peasants and
No. 1532), enacted on 9 January
workers are vulnerable to short-run
1907.
material inducements such as offers
 Philippine party politics, at that
of money, jobs, various kind of
period, was characterized by
donations and instant assistance,
clientelist interactions between
etc., which most peasant and labor
Filipino politicians and their
candidates cannot afford and to
American colonial patrons.
provide.
 There were two major parties – the
Partido Nacionalista and the Partido
Nacional Progresista.
#4: ELECTORAL POLITICS IN THE
- The Nacionalista Party (NP) was
PHILIPPINES
formed on March 12, 1907, as a
ELECTIONS merger of several nationalist
movements and organizations
In the Philippines, all elective officials -
pushing for Philippine
president, vice-president, members of the
independence.
House of Representatives, local chief
- The Progresista Party was
executives, and local legislators - are chosen
formerly the Partido Federalista
by a direct vote of the people through a
– the country’ s first political
'first-past-the-post system'. The plurality
party organized in 1900 by a
 group of prominent, mostly
Manila-based ilustrados to push
for the annexation to and
statehood within the United
States.
 The right of suffrage was granted to
all Filipinos who were:
(1) 21 years and above.
(2) able to read and write
English or Spanish; and
(3) residents of the Philippines
for at least one year and of the
municipality in which they proposed
to vote for at least six months prior
to the date of the elections. It also
provided for the extension of the
right of suffrage to women.
POSTWAR PERIOD IN THEPHILIPPINES
 The Philippines have had relatively
extensive experience in electoral
politics.
 From 1946 to 1971, 16 national and
local elections were conducted. This
translates into an average of one
national election every 16 months,
aside from the equally frequent local
elections for governors, mayors, and
other local officials.
 Philippine post-war politics was
characterized by an ‘indistinct two-
party systems’ with intense
competition between the
Nacionalista Party (NP) and the
Liberal Party (LP). The LP was
formerly the ‘liberal wing’ of the NP
that formally split off after an
intense leadership struggle in 1946.
MARTIAL LAW PERIOD IN THE PHILIPPINES
 The declaration of martial law by
President Ferdinand Marcos in
September 1972 halted all party
activities and intra-elite
competitions. Elections were
canceled for the first six years of
martial law.
 Marcos began to institutionalize
one-party dominance with the
organization of the New Society
Movement (Kilusang Bagong
Lipunan, KBL) in 1978.
 The KBL was originally established as
a coalition movement of members
of the pre-martial law NP, LP, and
other political personalities who
were supportive of Marcos’ ‘New
Society’.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM
 Under the 1987 constitution, the
president and the vice president
are separately elected by a
direct vote of the people
through simple plurality
nationwide.
 The president is not eligible for
reelection while the vice-
president sits one term out after
serving two successive terms.
 The Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) has administered all
electoral exercises in the
Philippines. The Philippine
Congress consists of the Senate
and the House of
Representatives.
 Half of the 24 senators are
nationally elected at large 17
 every six years through simple
plurality.
 Members of the House of
Representatives are elected
from single-member districts
every three years.
 The constitution drafted under
the Aquino administration
THE 1992 SYNCHRONIZED ELECTIONS
provides form of government.
THE1987CONGRESS ELECTIONS
 The first election in the Philippines
since 197,184 candidates vied for
the Senate, while 1,899 contested
the House seats.
 Political parties nominated more
than one candidate in the same
district. (Kasuya, 2001b).
 President Corazon C. Aquino refused
to form her own political party, an
assorted array of political parties
who supported her candidacy in
1986 formed a coalition to carry the
administration banner. The Lakas ng
Bayan (People's Power)
 The Grand Alliance for Democracy
(GAD), led by former Defense
THE 2001 CONGRESS ELECTIONS
Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, former
Marcos cabinet men.
THE 1988 LOCAL ELECTIONS
 Considered to be another step
towards the consolidation of state
powers by the Aquino
administration.
 The exercise, however, reinforced
the traditional nature of politics in
the Philippines. Voters in the urban
areas elected candidates with
familiar names, while those in the
rural areas supported their relatives
and friends.
 The Laban ng Demokratikong
Pilipino (LDP) was organized in 1988
as a merger of all political parties
and groups supporting the Aquino
administration.
 The first synchronized election
under the 1987 constitution. Thus
presidential, congressional.
 Also, the first free and open
presidential election since 1969.
There were seven presidential
contenders: relatively new political
parties.
 The election saw the emergence of
new parties, alliances, and coalitions
that fielded a multitude of
candidates for various governmental
positions.
 With the endorsement of President
Aquino and the support of
government resources, Ramos
emerged as the winner.
 Mid-term election was held in a
highly charged political atmosphere
after the sudden fall of the Estrada
administration.
 The Arroyo administration fielded a
coalition of all the parties and
personalities that had participated in
the struggle against President
Estrada.
 The People Power Coalition was
composed of the Lakas-NUUCD-
UMDP. Reporma-LM, Aksyon
 Demokratiko, PROMDI, LP and PDP-  A technique rendering authority
Laban. and/or creating representative
 The opposition fielded a slate bodies.
composed of former First Lady Luisa  In the Philippines, elections have
Estrada, 3 re-elected candidates, 3 historically served to legitimize the
former senators, the former chief of government and perpetuate elite
the Philippine National Police, 2 rule.
local politicians, a talk show host,  The standard approach to analyzing
and a socialite. Filipino electoral and party politics
has been to view power relations
PERFORMANCE OF THE CURRENT
within the context of the patron-
ELECTORAL SYSTEM
client factional (PCF) framework.
 Elections perform two central  Filipinos have a sustained
functions in a political system: (1) preference for democracy and have
they represent the political will of internalized democratic values amid
the voters; and (2) they integrate occasional challenges by anti-
formation of political parties that democratic forces. Thus, there is a
bring about majorities. firm belief among leaders and the
 The Philippines has a tradition of electorate that political leaders
strong presidential influence over should be chosen through regular,
the House of Representatives that fair, and honest elections.
encourages party switching and
POLITICAL DYNASTIES AND RECALL
political turncoatism.
ELECTIONS
 The integration effect of an electoral
Philippine history has long been
system can be estimated by how
characterized by the durability and
much it promotes the efficient
resilience of political clans and dynasties.
formation of the government.
Section 26, article II of the constitution
 There are two types of political
asserts:
parties that most Filipino politicos
affiliate with: one during the  ‘The State shall guarantee equal
electoral period and another when access to opportunities for public
serving their term of office. service, and prohibit political
dynasties as defined by law’.
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND
 Political dynasties refer to clans and
DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
families that hold multiple electives
 ‘An election is a procedure by which and/or appointive positions in
members of communities and/or government.
organizations choose persons to  Unfortunately, the clan-dominated
hold an office’ Congress has failed to enact the
 anti-dynasty provision of the may be provided by law, except the
constitution. religious sector.
 In consonance with Section 3, article  They must represent and seek to
X of the constitution, the Local uplift the marginalized and under-
Government Code of 1991 (Republic represented sectors.
Act No. 7160) introduced recall
elections. Accordingly, recall refers
to ‘the power of registered voters to Major political parties may nominate
remove from office any local official party-list representatives provided they
for loss of confidence. are able to show they represent the
interests of the marginalized and under-
THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM
presented.
 The House of Representatives shall
 Political parties formed by religious
be composed of not more than 255
sects that seek to go around the
members, unless otherwise fixed by
prohibition against the religious
law, who shall be elected from
sector are covered by the ban.
legislative districts apportioned
 A party must not be an adjunct of a
among provinces, cities, and the
project organized, or an entity
Metropolitan Manila area I
funded or assisted by the
accordance with the number of their
government. A party, organization,
respective inhabitants, and on the
and its nominees must represent the
basis of a uniform and progressive
marginalized.
ratio, and those who, as provided by
 A party's nominee does not
law, shall be elected through a
represent a particular district only.
party-list system or registered
He or she must be able to contribute
national, regional and sectoral
to the enactment of laws that will
parties or organizations.
benefit the entire nation.
 The party-list representatives shall
constitute twenty per centum of the PROPOSAL FOR INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
total number of representatives
There is a need to review three areas of
including those under the party list.
political reform:
For three consecutive terms after
the ratification of this constitution, (1) the highly centralized unitary state and
one-half of the seats allocated to
the presidential form of government.
party-list representatives shall be
filled, as provided by law, by (2) the party system.
selection or election from the labor,
(3) the electoral system itself.
peasant, urban poor, indigenous
cultural communities, women,
youth, and such other sectors as
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
  The 1987 constitution was a product
of the post-authoritarian transition.
As a reaction to the excesses of the
Marcos dictatorship, the framers of
the constitution revived the pre-
martial law institutions patterned
after the United States presidential
form of government.
 The Ramos administration
attempted to revise it in 1996-1997,
and the Estrada administration in
1999-2000.
 Under the Macapagal-Arroyo
government, the issue of
constitutional reform has been
revived.
Proponents of change point to the following
as possible areas to reform:
 A shift in the form of government,
from the current president to a
parliamentary system.
 Changes in electoral rules such as
the extension or the lifting of the
term of office of the president,
legislators, and/or local government
officials, and the election of the
senators according to region, 'first-
past-the-post or proportional
representation.
 Changes in the party system, mainly
in the reversal to a two-party system
from the current multi-party system.
 A shift from a unitary system of
government to a federal one.
 A review of the nationalistic
economic principles supposed to
make a country competitive vis-a-vis
the world economy.
ELECTORAL REFORM
The proposed Election Code of the
Philippines in 1993 attempted to introduce
electoral reforms.
 Modernization of the Electoral
Process by computerization.
 Prevention of advance campaigning
by candidates.
 Redefining the definition of the
candidate.
 Disqualification of candidates who
changes their political party
affiliation within 6 months before
the election.
 The code failed to pass into law for
various reasons, the main reasons
being a lack of political will amongst
the executive and legislative
branches, the lack of organized
popular support amongst civil
society organizations, and the
episodic nature of elections with
diminished enthusiasm for
continuous support.
#5: SOME ADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM
AND PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT FOR
THE PHILIPPINES.
EDSA 1
Tens of thousands of unarmed Filipinos
gathered to defend a small but swelling
band of military rebels at the military and
police headquarters along Epifanio de Los
Santos Avenue that cuts through Metro
Manila from North to South. United in their
cry for “Justice, Freedom, and Democracy,”
they peacefully immobilized the armed
forces of the 13-year Marcos dictatorship.
EDSA 2
Not only at EDSA in Metro Manila but also
in many cities, citizens gathered and
employed “people power” once more to
bring down a president who was perceived
to be abusive and corrupt.
Our unitary Presidential System is
counterproductive.
Characteristics that define or distinguish
federation/ Federal Systems when
compared to unitary systems:
 Two orders of government (Federal
and Regional)
 Sharing of legislative and executive
powers and sharing of revenue
sources between two orders of
government.
 designated representation of
distinct regional opinions within
federal decision-making institutions,
usually guaranteed by the specific
structure of the federal second
chamber.
 a supreme written constitution that
is not unilaterally modifiable but
requires the consent of a large
proportion of federation members.
 an arbitration mechanism (in the
form of courts or a referendum) to
solve intergovernmental disputes
Principles of the proposed federal republic
or federalism
 Principle of "dual sovereignty"
 to promote good governance and
the common good of the citizens,
federal systems experience a great
deal of cooperation, mutual support,
and adjustments in the relations
between the Federal Government
and the States (or regional
governments)
 Federalism is related to the principle
of “popular sovereignty” which says:
“Sovereignty resides in the people
and all government authority
emanates from them”
 Decentralized governance is also
related to the principle of
subsidiarity: problems should be
attended to at the lowest level in
which they can be solved
What do we expect to achieve through the
proposed Federal-Parliamentary System?
(1) to solve our problems, meet our
challenges and achieve our goals as a
nation.
(2) to effect needed change and reforms
faster, and
(3) to sustain our development and
modernization.
The Main Features of the Proposed Federal
Republic of the Philippines
Self-Rule by the people in the proposed
eleven (11) States and their local
governments. Shared Rule between the
Federal Government and the States and
their local governments.
The Federal Republic of the Philippines
1. The Federation (Federasyon) represented
by the Federal Government (National
Government).
2. The Eleven (11) States (Extrados/Regional their rights and interests in the
Governments). Parliament.
 Members of Parliament
 Luzon: 4 states (Northern Luzon,
(Parlamentaryos and
Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog,
Senadores/Senators).
Bicol)
Parlamentaryos (Members of the
 Visayas: 4 states (Eastern Visayas,
Balay Sambayanan) shall be elected
Central Visayas, Western Visayas,
in the parliamentary districts (now
and Mimaropa, covering Mindoro
congressional districts) for a term of
Oriental and Mindoro Occidental,
five years, unless Parliament is
Palawan and the Kalayaan Islands,
sooner dissolved, and a
Romblon, Marinduque)
parliamentary election is held.
 Mindanao: 3 states (Northern
 The Prime Minister (Punong
Mindanao, which may be subdivided
Ministro). The Parliament elects the
into Northwestern and Northeastern
leader of the majority party or
Mindanao; Southern Mindanao,
coalition as the Prime Minister, the
Bangsamoro)
Head of Government who forms the
When will the proposed revision of the Cabinet made up mostly of
1987 Constitution take effect? members of Parliament.
 The President (Presidente). The
The CMFP proposes the holding of a
President shall be a symbolic and
plebiscite early in 2007 to ratify the
ceremonial Head of State elected for
Proposed Revision of the 1987 Constitution,
a term of five years by the
so that the election in May 2007 shall be for
Parliament and all the State
the officers in the 1987 Constitution as
Assemblies.
Revised.
 The Judiciary (Judicatura). Judicial
What are the institutions of the Proposed power shall be vested in the
Federal Government? Supreme Court (Kinatas-ang
Hukuman) and the Court of Appeals.
 The Parliament (Parlamento). The
The Court of Appeals shall have a
Parliament shall exercise both
division in the capital of every State.
legislative power and executive
The Constitutional Tribunal
power.
(Tribunal Konstitusyonal) shall
 The Parliament shall be bicameral.
decide all disputes involving the
It shall consist of the House of the
constitutionality of the decisions and
People (Balay Sambayanan) and the
actions of the Federal Government
House of the States or the Senate
and the States.
(Balay Estados or Senado). The
House of States or Senate
represents the States and protects
  The Federal Civil Service. (Serbisyo
Civil Federal). Professional career
executive and administrative staff of
the Federal Government.
Advantages of the Proposed Federal
Republic
 The Federal Republic will build a just
and enduring framework for peace
through unity in our ethnic,
religious, and cultural diversity,
especially in relation to Bangsa
Moro or Muslim Filipinos and our
lumad/indigenous peoples
 Decentralization and devolution
cannot move further under the old
unitary system despite avowed goals
expressed in the 1987 Constitution
and the Local Government Code.
 The Federal Republic will empower
our citizens by enabling them to
raise their standard of living and
enhance their political awareness
through their participation and
efficacy in elections and the making
and carrying out of government
decisions at the regional and local
levels.
 The Federal Republic will improve
governance by challenging and
energizing State and local leaders,
entrepreneurs, and citizens around
the country to take hold of their
destiny. Federalism will release
them from the costly, time-
consuming, stifling, and
demoralizing effects of excessive
central government controls and
regulation in our traditional Unitary
System.
 The Federal Republic will thus
stimulate and hasten the country’s
political, economic, social, and
cultural development.
 Federalism, together with
parliamentary government, will
improve governance by promoting
the development of strong, united,
disciplined, and program-oriented
political parties that are responsible
and accountable to the people for
their conduct and performance in
and out of power.
 Metro Manila State will have a
unified political structure that will
integrate its various cities and
municipalities under the State
Assembly that combines legislative
and executive powers and authority.
Unlike the State Assemblies of the
other States, the mayors in Metro
Manila will constitute the Metro
Manila State Assembly. The Metro
Manila Governor and State Cabinet
will direct and coordinate the
various metropolitan functions and
services.
 Gradually, the Federal Republic and
its Parliamentary Government will
broaden and deepen democracy.