The proposed shift to federalism could still be attained within President Duterte’s term, Malacañang said Monday, despite noticing the congressional moves towards the goal were “slow.”
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo maintained that the President has not abandoned his federalism initiative even after he called for swift amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“The President is optimistic that it will because he knows that federalism will help the development of this country. It’s a matter of, I think, time on the part of Congress to do it,” Panelo said when asked if they were confident the federalism could be passed under Duterte’s watch.
“We have to ask Congress why it is moving slow,” he added.
Panelo explained that Duterte made a push for amendments to the Charter’s economic provisions in case the federalism bill does not hurdle Congress.
“The President is a very creative person. If he feels that one method is not practical or cannot be realized, he goes to another mode. What is important to him is certain provisions of the Constitution must be amended. And that is the judgment call of the Congress,” he said.
The President, in his visit to Cotoabato City last Friday, dropped hints that he might resort to amendments to the “not all” but a few economic provisions of the Constitution.
Duterte made the remark as Congress has yet to pass a draft federal Constitution that seeks a shift to a federal form of government. (Genalyn Kabiling)
