A Conference on Federal-Parliamentary system has been successfully held for the fourth and fifth time in the city of Cebu and San Fernando, Pampanga.

With its consistent banner, “Pursuing Federalism: A Shift from Unitary - Presidential to Federal - Parliamentary Government”, the two recently held FedCons were able to converge various individuals in the locality in its goal to provide feasible recommendations to President Duterte’s administration in his Federal advocacy.

There will be no constitutional convention (ConCon), as leaders of Congress have decided to transform the legislative body into a constituent assembly (ConAss) for the purpose of amending the 1987 Constitution.

“It was agreed that Congress will simply form a constitutional assembly to revise the Constitution. There is nothing to worry about because consultations with the people will be ensured,” Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez disclosed before the Management Association of the Philippines yesterday in Makati City.

The Senate is preparing to take up the proposed grant of emergency powers to the President to address the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila and other major urban areas.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said a public hearing would be held as soon as possible to get the views of all stakeholders on the proposed grant of emergency powers.

IN 1791, when the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified allowing “a well-regulated militia for the security of a free state, and giving the right of the people to keep and bear arms,” nobody expected that three centuries later, America will face major problems like firearms-related death and injury among children and adolescents, increased youth gun-carrying, and weaning of the psychological effects of exposure to gun violence, among others.

I had to fly to Manila to play in the Aboitiz Media Golf on Tuesday, hence I had to do an advance column, which means, I cannot talk about the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte. Anyway, I'm sure that you can read that report in the front page of this newspaper or in the national newspapers.

Change has really come even for me. Usually, my Saturdays are sacred as it used to be my golfing day, which is considered “my day off.” Well, last Saturday, after my medical check up, instead of heading towards the golf course, I joined the forum entitled, “Pursuing Federalism: A Shift from Unitary-Presidential to Federal-Parliamentary Government held at the Elizabeth Hotel sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. (PCCI), Centrist Democracy Political Institute, Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. (CCCI) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

MANILA, July 26 - Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said that the Department will issue a memorandum which is aimed at reducing “endo” practice by 50 percent by the end of 2016.

“I plan to reduce contractualization by 50 percent by the end of 2016. Workers under “endo” or “555” receive less than the mandated minimum wage without social protection benefits such as Social Security System (SSS), Pag-ibig, and PhilHealth.

With leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives coming from Mindanao, Malacañang is optimistic that President Duterte’s legislative agenda would be passed without much objection in both chambers.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar yesterday said Malacañang is hopeful that there will be a “pro-active cooperation” between the executive and legislative branches following the assumption to office of two of the President’s allies – Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

The long wait is over.

The public can finally gain greater access to government documents, including Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the historic on Freedom of Information (FOI) as promised.

Federalism is becoming increasingly important in the world today. Although only 28 countries claim to have a federal structure, they represent more than 40 percent of the world’s population. There are other countries that do not claim to be federal but their government structure has devolved powers to local governments that they actually resemble federal states.