Duterte forms inter-agency federalism task force
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte created an inter-agency task force that would “integrate, harmonize and coordinate” efforts toward federalism and constitutional reforms.
Duterte ordered the creation of the task force through Memorandum Circular 52, which was signed on October 31 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and released to reporters on Monday, November 5.
The federalism inter-agency task force will be chaired by the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra will serve as the vice chair.
The functions of the task force include developing strategies and implementing activities necessary to raise public awareness on federalism and constitutional reform, preparing an information dissemination and public communication plan.
It must also conduct consultations with the former members of the consultative committee tasked to review the 1987 constitution, government agencies, private sector and public, and liaise with the Congress to initiate the process of and address the roadblocks to constitutional reform.
Duterte in July received the consultative committee’s proposed federal constitution, which would establish a federal government—a pet project of the current government.
Last month, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other lawmakers filed a draft federal charter, which removes the vice president from the line of succession in the transition government.
Senate leaders, however, said the Arroyo-led proposal would not thrive as there is simply no time to tackle charter change.
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