President Rodrigo Duterte admits that the majority of Filipinos do not want a shift to a federal form of government, one of his campaign promises in 2016.
Now that his term is about to end, Duterte said that Filipinos are not yet ready for federalism.
“The Filipino people is not ready. It is not accepted. Akala siguro na ‘yung nag-aadvocate ng federalism na wala akong ginawa. Alam mo nagkamali kayo. Every now and then, I call the mayors. Noon pa, pumupunta ako, kinakausap ko ‘yung mga tao,” Duterte said in an interview with Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
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Duterte said he felt that Filipinos are not excited with the idea of shifting to another form of government.
“There are many forms of parliament. Kapag diyan mo na inaano, ang mga tao hindi talaga nakakaintindi… Hindi kami nagkulang pero as president and as honestly as I can be, hindi talaga tanggapin ng tao, karamihan, kaya hindi nagtake off,” Duterte said.
A year after he won the presidency, Duterte already said that the Filipino people are not ready for federalism.
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“Until the six years are over, ayaw talaga. So hindi na lang ginawaz Sinabi ko sa kanila, ayaw ng tao. Ayaw ng tao,” he added.
Some are afraid that local officials will have more power under federalism.
“Natakot sila na may more expanded powers ang, kasi you would always equate it with the local struggle, who’s the best to run. And if these guys are given a more expanded governance, medyo hindi nila naintindihan o ayaw nilang tanggapin,” he said.
