Social and Political Reforms

The Facts and Realities of our Life as a Nation Why change the Constitution? The Facts and Realities of our Life as a Nation

Fact No. 1: Our country is rich Facts and Realities Fact No. 1: Our country is rich The richness of the waters surrounding our islands extends from Benham Rise in the East to the Philippine Sea in the West.

Fact No. 1: Our country is rich Facts and Realities Fact No. 1: Our country is rich We hold the world’s third-largest reserve of minerals in the world, valued at US900 billion.

Fact No. 1: Our country is rich Facts and Realities Fact No. 1: Our country is rich The Coral Triangle is the global center of marine biodiversity. It is also called the “Amazon of the seas.” It includes the tropical marine waters of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Lester. Its biological resources sustain the lives of over 120 million people.

The Harsh and Hard Realities Why change the Constitution? The Harsh and Hard Realities

Reality No. 1: Our people are poor Facts and Realities Reality No. 1: Our people are poor One out of every four Filipino live below the poverty line 42 percent of Filipino families consider themselves poor In ARMM, poverty is even worse, with 53.4 % poverty incidence 3 of the top 5 poorest provinces in the country are in the ARMM led by Lanao del Sur having 74.3 % poverty incidence, followed by Sulu at 65.7% and Maguindanao at 59.4%.

Reality No. 1: Our people are poor Facts and Realities Reality No. 1: Our people are poor Two out of three heads of poor Filipino families finished only elementary Two out of five households do not have electricity. Three out of ten families have no clean drinking water. One out of four families has no a sanitary toilet. Almost half live in a house 10-29 square meters in size.

Reality No. 2: Gaping Rich-Poor Gap Facts and Realities Reality No. 2: Gaping Rich-Poor Gap 26 million Filipinos survive on lower than daily minimum wage. The income of the top ten percent of Filipino families is TEN times higher than the income of the bottom 10 percent

Reality No. 3: Millions are Homeless Facts and Realities Reality No. 3: Millions are Homeless It is estimated that around 44% of the urban population live in slums (UN Habitat, 2008). Manila has the largest homeless population of any city in the world – 3.1 million. An estimated 1.2 million children in the Philippines sleep rough, with 70,000 in Manila (IBT, 2014).

Reality No. 4: Education is Prohibitive Facts and Realities Reality No. 4: Education is Prohibitive Only one out of every ten Filipinos has a college degree For every 100 children who enrol in the first grade, only 14 finish college

Reality No. 5: Not enough Jobs Facts and Realities Reality No. 5: Not enough Jobs A quarter of the labor force is either unemployed on underemployed

Reality No. 5 Not enough jobs Why change the constitution Reality No. 5 Not enough jobs 7 - 10 million Filipinos work abroad Nearly one fourth of the labor force They make the economies of competitor-countries better than ours US$ 2.5 billion monthly remittance

Reality No. 6 Dynasties control politics Facts and Realities Reality No. 6 Dynasties control politics 295 families control Philippine politics 73 of 80 provinces have political dynasties 81% of governors, 78% of House members, 69% of mayors, 57% of vice mayors belong to political dynasties 56% of dynasties have existed since 120 years ago; 44% were born after the EDSA revolution The presence of political dynasties is associated with: (1) higher poverty; (2) lower income per capita; (3) higher infant mortality rates; and (4) lower primary education outcomes (Monsod, et. al., 2012).

62.04% of GDP Why change the constitution Region Poverty Rate GDP Share Metro Manila 4.5 37.02 Cordillera 22.6 1.82 Ilocos 17.2 3.09 Cagayan Valley 16.5 1.85 Central Luzon 13.0 9.08 CALABARZON 10.4 15.94 MIMAROPA 22.0 1.68 Bicol 30.9 2.09 W. Visayas 24.2 3.98 Central Visayas 27.0 6.58 Eastern Visayas 39.3 2.05 Region Poverty GDP Zamboanga Peninsula 30.9 2.03 N. Mindanao 34.9 3.84 Davao Region 20.5 4.11 SOCCSKSARGEN 37.4 2.78 CARAGA 35.3 1.23 ARMM 53.4 0.84 NCR, Calabarzon and Central Luzon 62.04% of GDP Regions with low GDP share have higher poverty rates

The economy is controlled by a few Why change the constitution The economy is controlled by a few The wealth of the richest 50 families (3.5 trillion pesos) is equivalent to: one-fourth of the gross domestic product GDP share of ten regions the entire budget of the government Oligarchs, monopolies, cartels control vital industries and businesses

The economy is controlled by a few Why change the constitution The economy is controlled by a few The wealth of the richest 50 families (3.5 trillion pesos) is equivalent to: one-fourth of the gross domestic product GDP share of ten regions the entire budget of the government Oligarchs, monopolies, cartels control vital industries and businesses

A shift from unitary to federal system of government Why change the constitution A shift from unitary to federal system of government Fediralism is to touch the lives of the people, especially the least, the last and the lost. The least because they have less in life. The last because they are hard to reach. The lost because they do not know what and how to alleviate their poor socio-economic conditions. Only then, government service Finds its meaning. Eddie Mapag Alih

Unitary vs Federal (Social and Political Reforms) Failure to address most of the nation’s problems Poverty across the regions Corruption Expanded civil and political rights Giving the poor, demandable socio- economic rights (Sec. 26-27, Art. III) Adequate Food Complete Education Decent Housing Universal and comprehensive Healthcare Livelihood and Employment opportunities

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Failure to address most of the nation’s problems Poverty across the regions Corruption Giving demandable environmental rights: (Sec. 28, Art. III) Healthful environment and balanced ecology Clean air, water, soil, surroundings Seek compensation for damage to the environment Seek court relief (writ of kalikasan) to stop activities that damage the environment

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Failure to address most of the nation’s problems Poverty across the regions Corruption Protecting the poor against employment discrimination (Sec. 3, Art. XV) Providing opportunities for gainful employment for persons with disabilities (Sec. 3, Art. XV) Protecting overseas Filipino workers (Sec. 5, Art. XV)

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Failure to address most of the nation’s problems Poverty across the regions Corruption Providing access to free legal assistance (Sec. 15, Art. III) Allowing release on recognizance of indigents accused of probationable crimes when the risk of flight is low (Sec. 17, Art. III) Providing compensation to persons unjustly and wrongfully accused, convicted and imprisoned but subsequently acquitted (Sec. 22, Art. III) To address unbridled graft and corruption

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Overconcentration of powers in the national government National/Central government controls 80 percent of the powers, funds, policies, programs, projects Failure to address most of the nation’s problems due to overconcentration of powers in the national government Threats of secession in Mindanao Longest-running insurgency Monopoly of political power by political dynasties Monopoly of economic power by business oligarchs Governmental powers, resources, determination of policies, programs, projects are properly distributed between the Federal Government and the Federated Regions in the Constitution itself 16 Federated Regions, Bangsamoro and Federated Region of Cordilleras

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Overconcentration of powers in the national government National/Central government controls 80 percent of the powers, funds, policies, programs, projects Failure to address most of the nation’s problems due to overconcentration of powers in the national government Threats of secession in Mindanao Longest-running insurgency Monopoly of political power by political dynasties Monopoly of economic power by business oligarchs Non-Centralization of powers Vertical distribution of powers from the central government to regional government Political Reforms Breaking up the monopoly of power Levelling the political field Empowering the people through direct exercise of democracy Necessary to ensure that the regions will have a vibrant and functioning political system

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Overconcentration of powers in the national government National/Central government controls 80 percent of the powers, funds, policies, programs, projects Failure to address most of the nation’s problems due to overconcentration of powers in the national government Threats of secession in Mindanao Longest-running insurgency Monopoly of political power by political dynasties Monopoly of economic power by business oligarchs Self-executing anti-dynasty provisions Self-executing anti-party-switching provisions (balimbing/political butterflies Strengthening the political party system Reforming the party-list system: Proportional party representation in the House of Representatives Campaign Finance Reform: “Democracy Fund” People’s Initiative, Plebiscite and Referendum: Direct exercise of legislative power

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Overconcentration of powers in the national government National/Central government controls 80 percent of the powers, funds, policies, programs, projects Failure to address most of the nation’s problems due to overconcentration of powers in the national government Threats of secession in Mindanao Longest-running insurgency Monopoly of political power by political dynasties Monopoly of economic power by business oligarchs Levelling the Political Field Self-executing anti-dynasty provisions (Sec. 8, Art. V) Up to second degree No succession No multiple positions Self-executing anti-party-switching provisions (Sec. 7, Art. V) No switching parties during term No switching parties two years before, two years after an election Penalties: removal from office, prohibition from appointment and running in next election

Unitary vs Federal (Political and Social Reforms) Overconcentration of powers in the national government National/Central government controls 80 percent of the powers, funds, policies, programs, projects Failure to address most of the nation’s problems due to overconcentration of powers in the national government Threats of secession in Mindanao Longest-running insurgency Monopoly of political power by political dynasties Monopoly of economic power by business oligarchs Levelling the Political Field Strengthening the political party system (Sec. 4-6, Art. V) Requires party ideology, principles, platform and program of government to be accredited by COMELEC Requires parties to exercise of fair, honest, and democratic procedures in selection of party officials and nomination of candidates for elective positions Prohibits contributions from religious organizations, foreigners, foreign governments and illegal sources and corporations to contribute funds legitimately to political parties and candidates, and financially empower small political parties and women candidates

The time for federalism has come.” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte “We have to move away from the unitary form of government, which has been in existence or set up originally by Spaniards. It has always been a strong central government. The time for federalism has come.” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Eidl Fitr 2018, Davao City