Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. is pushing for the setting up of a federal system with 12 states and Metro Manila, each with six senators.
“The 24 senators for the country (were) based on a population of 18 to 20 million people at the time of (President Manuel) Quezon,” Pimentel told The Source yesterday.
“Now we are 104 million… and unless we accommodate the rest of the country, there will be no adequate representation,” he added.
Himself a native of Mindanao, Pimentel said Metro Manila will still be the capital and will have six senators. Nine overseas senators are also included, bringing the total suggested number of senators to 87.
“Six is just the product of a proposal which may be reduced or expanded depending on the will of the people,” he added.
Pimentel filed a joint resolution establishing the federal system when he was senator durinbg the 14th Congress.
He is a founder of PDP-Laban and the father of Senate President Koko Pimentel.
His proposed 12 federal states are: the Federal Administrative Reigon (metro Manila), Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Minparom (Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon), Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Bangsamoro.
Pimentel’s proposal did not include the Cordillera Administrative Region, but he later added it after speaking to people in the area. He noted that they were also considered an autonomous region, like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
He said the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law “can be absorbed” in this federal model.
Pimentel said his proposal also accommodates disputed areas such as Sabah, Spratly Islands, and Scarborough Shoal.
Pimentel’s proposal
Under Pimentel’s proposal, the president and vice president will continue to be elected by popular vote, this time as a tandem.
“It’s much better if they come from the same party or coalition of parties so that from the start of their term they are one in the objective of the development of the nation,” said Pimentel.
While a federal system allows for fiscal and legislative autonomy among states, Pimentel said the federal administrative government should still maintain certain national policies which will be defined by the Constitution.
The federal government will retain control over the Armed Forces and the police.
A concern raised against federalism is the empowerment of political dynasties.
Pimentel believes there should be a law against the proliferation of dynasties, and this policy should be stated in the Constitution.
“It is much better done by revision of the Constitution, because then you can… put a specific provision-that this person, the patriarch of the family, his power cannot be succeeded by his wife, his mistress, whoever,” Pimentel explained.
Preference for ConCon
Pimentel believes the “best mode” to adopt the shift is through a constitutional convention which would have elected representatives..
Duterte earlier backed this approach, but later endorsed a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) which is a cheaper option. Congress will be converted in the con-ass to introduce changes to the Constitution.
Pimentel said he is comfortable with the con-ass “with a president monitoring closely what [House and Senate members] are doing.”
He added the lawmakers should conduct public hearings “in the remote places of the country, so that they will hear what the people want to say.”
Pimentel says the shift may take two to three years, while the last three years of Duterte’s term will be for “transition and implementation.”
