PH not ready for federalism – Lumad chief

A LUMAD chief slammed the Duterte administration’s push for federalism, warning that the country is unprepared to implement one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime campaign promises.

Dulphing Ogan, the Sulong Katribu Partylist convenor, stressed that federalism is not the solution to the country’s woes like corruption and the civil unrest in Mindanao.

“Federalism is not yet the answer kung sasagutin ‘yung kahirapan ng bansang Pilipinas, kung ‘yan ba ang pakay niya (Duterte) para sagutin ang sitwasyon ng kawalan ng kapayapaan sa Pilipinas. Hindi pa rin puwede ito. Mas pinapalala ito ng federalism,” he said.

Federalism is a type of government that divides a nation into regions or states and gives each one greater autonomy. Some of the prominent federal nations are the United States, Russia, Germany, and Brazil. On Dec. 11, the House approved the draft federal constitution on its final reading.

Ogan claimed that federalism will be ineffective for the Philippines because of corruption, foreign domination, and the “irony” of an agricultural country with 70 percent of its farmers lacking land.

“Ibig sabihin, habang ito pa ‘yung situation sa bansa natin na ang lupa [ay] wala pa sa magsasaka, hindi pa answer ang federalism, dahil ang federalism ay ang pag-co-concentrate ng power, paghahatihati ng mga yaman ng ating bansa diyan sa bawat federal state,” he said.

The Lumad chief also claimed that federalism will concentrate power to oligarchs via political dynasties, citing prominent families such as the Dutertes in Davao and the Ampatuans and Mangudadatus in Maguindanao.

“Kay Duterte [...] walang katapusan ang power sa Davao. Sa federal state, mas lalo na ‘yan... Sila ‘yung mga nangunguna diyan sa mga plantation, sa mga mining na investment… mas pinatibay ng mga oligarch na ito sa ganiyang lugar ‘yung mga kanilang hawak doon sa region or sa federal state,” he explained.

Ogan suggested that the government pursue agricultural development and agrarian reform as well as nationalize the mining industry.

“‘Yung lupa, ibalik doon sa pag-develop ng agriculture, i-concentrate doon sa pagtulong sa mga magsasaka at para sa amin, ‘yung genuine land reform ng lupa,” he said.

He added that the Lumad will continue to push for better reforms and

expose “a small portion of their selfdetermination” in order to focus on true territorial development.

The event titled Pwederalismo: Implications of Charter Change in the National Minority and Mindanao was organized by the UST Sociological Society and held at the Tanghalang Teresita Auditorium on Nov. 12.

Socio Soc’s stand against federalism

After the event, the UST Sociological Society published a statement urging students to oppose the shift to federalism, citing studies that project federalism will heighten poverty and inequality in the country.

“We urge every student organization to join us and stand with the people to oppose federalism, for it only vests a political power upon a systematic political oppression, impending threats of political dynasties and perennial threat of economic instability,” the statement read.

They explained that federalism “will only maintain the status quo, worsen corruption, and further prolong the oppression experienced by a majority of Filipinos,” and not lead to the concrete development of the country. F CRIS EUGENE T. GIANAN and ANGEL B. DUKHA III