Part 3 of 3

Before the time Candidate Digong came forward with a genius strategy of going for the Presidency with his “urong-sulong,” “now you see him, now you don’t” campaign approach, only a few people have really heard of federalism. I suspected Manila voters were at first indifferent to the idea.

MANILA, Philippines – Corruption, unemployment and lack of education emerged as the top concerns of millennials from around the globe in their respective economies, while the national government and the media were cited as the most distrusted institutions, a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) showed.

MANILA, Aug. 24 -- Economic adviser and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said the agency is on the right track and moving at a fast pace to attain its goals,

 

“WE LIVE by symbols.” We make meaning through them—we are homo significans.

The battle for the public meaning of the Libingan ng mga Bayani has now reached Padre Faura, threatening to become the first confrontation between the Duterte administration and the Supreme Court.

OSLO, Norway, Aug. 23 —The Philippine government (GPH) on August 22, resumed its formal negotiations to seek peace with the National Democratic Front (NDF), seeking to forge a political settlement anchored on sweeping social, economic, and political reforms that were deemed crucial in ending Asia's longest running insurgency.

 

The Philippine government and communist guerrillas have agreed to ceasefires from Sunday, both sides said, ahead of crucial peace talks next week to end one of Asia's longest insurgencies.

Both sides said a break from the fighting will create a conducive environment at the negotiations next week in Norway, which are aimed at reaching a political settlement after 30 years of failed talks.

MANILA – Former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. on Wednesday said that under the federal system of government, the powers of the Executive Department over local government units (LGUs), particularly by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), will be abolished.

“Yes it will be dissolved (eventually),” said Pimentel, a prime mover of federalism in the country even long before the idea was broached by President Rodrigo Duterte.

MANILA, Aug. 18 - To carry out the Department Labor and Employment’s national and regional action plans on eliminating ‘endo’ and other illegitimate forms of contracting, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has directed for the training of regional directors, technical service division chiefs, mediator-arbiters, and labor laws compliance officers (LLCO) in determining labor-only contracting (LOC).

The first part of this three-column series discussed the four preconditions to a less painful, sustainable and successful shift to federalism. As I have previously said, revising the 1987 Constitution needs a FRAMEWORK, a step-by step process, a roadmap, so we won’t be lost even after the end of President Digong’s term.

The Ateneo de Davao University is hosting the advance screening of the #50FirstDays Documentary at Finster Hall on August 18, 2016 at 9:00AM. The landmark documentary, produced by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), showcases the achievements of President Duterte’s administration in his first two months in office.