Federal Mindanao (Part 2) : The Promise of Federalism to Mindanao

The numbers I had shown about Mindanao’s resources and its developing economy are just one facet of the island’s complex features. For many years now, Mindanao is beset by numerous problems on peace, infrastructure development and poverty. It is actually an irony that an island that holds so much promise of prosperity is home to millions of poor families, especially in the provinces of ARMM, CARAGA and Northern Mindanao.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), in its 2000 poverty incidence report, showed all regions in Mindanao had over 30 percent of poverty incidence. At the provincial level, Sulu (ARMM) was described as the poorest province in the Philippines, with the highest poverty incidence level of 63.2 percent. Tawi-Tawi had 56.5 percent. Maguindanao; 55.1 percent; Lanao del Sur, 55 percent; Sultan Kudarat, 54.3 percent; and Camiguin, 53.1 percent.

In the 2003 poverty report, CARAGA with 47.3 percent, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 45.7 percent, and Western Mindanao (Region IX) with 44.1 percent, were still among the top 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

The long-standing Mindanao peace process involving the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the Mindanao peace movement, is also one major concern that needs to be addressed at the structural, deep social, cultural and religious levels.

These chronic diseases beleaguering the island provided a venue for Mindanaons to meet and discuss the possible solutions or steps to take in pushing for a progressive and peaceful Mindanao. And that’s when the movement for federalism came in place.

Today, the island have an overwhelming number of “matured federalist” compared to the other regions. The movement for a federal Philippines actually originated way back December 1999, when federal advocates from the Mindanao Congress of Development NGOS (MINCON) network assembled and created Lihok Pideral Mindanao (LPM). From then on, a series of regional organizing, federal trainors’ training throughout Mindanao, Federal constitution write-shops, and consultations with key leaders in Visayas and Luzon, created the Movement for a Federal Philippines (MFP). What was once a solely Mindanaon battle cry became now, a nationwide issue. Just this week, the Technical Assistance for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor (TACDRUP) hosted a forum for Federalism and Charter Change where discussions on federalism was brought to higher grounds.

The heightened interest on the Federal System has finally made federalism a national debatable issue the active participation of key Mindanawan leaders in the historical 2005 Consultative Constitutional Commission or ConCom. Although the fate of federalism is now in the hands of congress, we want to make it clear that only a federal-parliamentary form of government and not just parliamentary system can help the country cure its many ills.

Mindanao federalists deeply believe that Federal-parliamentary is not only the most viable and a part of the lasting answer to the Mindanao problem but also the system of government most suited for the Philippines in the 21st century.

A federal Philippines would end the concentration of power in a single national center. A federal system will grant the nation that chance because only a federal system can give real power, duly constituted power, to regional governments.

Equally, this structure of government would reinforce the Mindanao peace process, thus create a chance for peace and development to many conflict-affected areas peoples. The Lumad peoples have persistently expressed their own preference for self-determination, having seen that their absorption into the unitary political system has brought about the establishment and solidification of a threat to their very own existence and the integrity of their distinct cultures.

The Bangsamoro have their own distinct identity and vested interest that must be respected and cannot be satisfied by a continued subscription to political uniformity. With the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the central government has allowed, albeit grudgingly, a departure from the stranglehold of central authority. The passage of the Local Government Code in 1991 further chips away powers from central authority; the local government units from the regional autonomy to the barangay are able to exercise greater self-determination.

From an economic perspective the positive effect of federalism to Mindanao is the creation of more sustainable and competitive regional socio-economic reforms. Through a federal system, regional accountabilities would create tailor-made programs for smaller territories that are more responsive to their constituencies, particularly the infrastructure, employment/jobs creation, health, education, and various other human development programs. The environment will allow an economy where small and micro businesses will become robust ; where investments laws are designed to meet the needs of the state as well as its desired investment sectors. The traders will have more access to government services and there will be lesser layers of bureaucracy.

A smaller constituency will also make measurement of political performance easier for the voters. Regional economic and social programs are more directly felt and assessed, empowering the constituents to act more rationally in elections.

In summary, Federalism is one system that may be able to effectively address the current and peculiar Mindanao problem, and correct the years of neglect by the central government. This unique island-region that harbors three peoples - Lumads, Moros and Christians - of diverse backgrounds, customs, culture, traditions, and social systems, very succinctly calls for unity in diversity.

Federalism is the key that will unlock and unleash the true potentials of Mindanao . Then Mindanao will truly be the land of promise !