필핀 연방제????좋을까? 나쁠까? (4)

밀어부처렬고고하는 울 두떨엉아!!???? To understand what federalism is all about, and decide to vote or not for it as our system of government, I advise readers to get hold of a copy of “Q&A Primer on Federalism” written by Rene V. Sarmiento, professor of law at San Beda University and lecturer at the University of the Philippines Law Center, and a former COMELEC commissioner. So much has been written about the issue, about eminent personalities expressing sureness about federalism making things better in our country, on one hand, and on the other, anxious about the consequences of the shift to the system. Sarmiento hopes the primer will help citizens have a “robust understanding” of federalism as it talks about its origin, of the history of federalism in the Philippines and abroad, the models of federalism, the discussion on it in the 1986 Constitutional Commission, and what they can do in the current national debate. Basically, the shift to federalism means having two levels of government controlling the same territory, writes Sarmiento. “Federalism is the mixed or compound mode of government, (the central or ‘federal’ government) with regional governments (provincial, state, cantonal, territorial or other sub-unit governments in a single political system… (It is defined) as a form of government in which there is a division of powers between two levels of government of equal status.” At present, what we have is a unitary system, where the national government is sovereign and the states are administrative arms of the central government, writes Sarmiento. As in the American federal system, the people retain their basic sovereignty and they delegate some powers to the national government and reserve other powers to the states. Individuals are citizens of both the general government and their respective states.” * * * But why are there many who opposed adoption of the federalist system? Sarmiento, takes no sides, as he enumerates the disadvantages of federalism. Sarmiento cites the views of Davide, C. Habito, J. Butuyan, former Sen. Joey Lina and E. Magay-Inciong. • Establishing a multilayer of government structure consisting of central and regional governments will be costly, creating an enlarged and bloated bureaucracy. • The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) puts the additional cost in the range of P44-72 billion, not even counting changes in the judiciary, if there is a shift to a federal system. • Federalism will strengthen political dynasties in the regional governments, perpetrate themselves in power and amass vast wealth through corruption. • Federalism will make the poor poorer because they will be burdened with taxes of all kinds to support and maintain the federal central government and regional governments. • The principle of federalism – local autonomy, subsidiarity and decentralization – are already in the 1987 Constitution. What needs to be done is to operationalize these principles of federalism. • The unitary system has carried this nation through tests of fire: the Filipino – American War (1898-1902), World War II against Japan (1941-1944), rebellion, coup attempts and war in Marawi. * * * Sarmiento is putting out another primer related to federalism. Read about it in my subsequent column. * * * The Commission on Population (POPCOM) denies the claim of pro-life groups that are circulating false information via social media that the contraceptive implant being distributed by the Department of Health (DOH) to women who want to space or limit child bearing causes abortion. POPCOM, through POPCOM-NCR Regional Director Lydio Espanol, has issued a press statement saying that in November 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a list of 51 contraceptives that were re-certified as safe and non-abortifacient, which included implant brands Implanon and Implanon NXT. “This result is definitely contrary to the claim of pro-life groups that contraceptives are abortifacients. The announcement from FDA has become the basis of the Supreme Court to lift the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that has kept the government from distributing and renewing permits for contraceptives.” Contraceptive implant is considered a long-acting reversible contraceptive that is made up of a tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick. This is put underneath the skin in the arm and works for up to three years but can be taken out whenever the woman wants to give birth. Patients seeking implant insertion are given more information during counseling done by trained health service providers, says Espanol. Espanol continues: “Since the demand has gone high after the lifting of the TRO in 2017, the DOH has released around 200,000 units of contraceptive implants to local city health offices and accredited civil society organizations, and has trained and accredited new physicians for implant insertion and removal.” Contraceptive implant is currently among the preferred family planning methods among women of reproductive age in Metro Manila, especially for couples who would like to delay their pregnancy in the next three years without worrying about taking a contraceptive daily or on a monthly basis. * * *