What was it that I wrote in the first two pieces using my crystal ball in my time travel?
FIRSTLY: “By 2030 the country would have undergone four national parliamentary elections held every four years simultaneously with the twelve regional parliaments; massive no nonsense nation building have involved the more than and still growing 100 million citizenry from the Barangays to towns, cities and provinces under regional governance. Each region is developing strength like a country by itself. The world led by the United Nations, WB, the IMF, the EEC, the NATO are all increasing their support in this novel cosmic experiment in human rehabilitation and draconian socio-cultural transformation.
The Filipino diasporas in every nook and corner of the globe are giving more than all out support to this unexpected and unparalleled experiment. This is the resurgence of the interrupted, patented Filipino People’s Bloodless Revolt in EDSA in 1986 . From 1986 to 2030 is 44 years. It’s a long wait for this CHANGE to happen. If 2030 will not happen as written here, then condolence and sympathy from the rest of the world may be the unintended expected.”
SECONDLY: “The Political System will do away with the multiple opportunistic political party system and will allow no more than two to three ideology based political parties. The PRESIDENT an outstanding citizen elected by the National Parliament is the Head of State, the PRIME MINISTER is the Head of Government who will also be the head of National Ministries (Cabinet). From among the members of the National Parliament there will be a Regional Deputy Prime Minister to exercise coordination powers over all Regional Premiers. There will be national ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Health, Education, Labor and Employment, Agriculture, Environment, Science and Technology, etc.
Regional Governments under Regional Premiers (the Governors’ primus inter pares) shall administer all provinces and cities, all local level governments within each region of the twelve (12) regions. There will be no changes in the number of provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays and sitios. The regions may be re-drawn and boundaries re-designated base on demographic and other socio-economic and political criteria.”
For this third of a series and as promised last time, I will now tackle the Mindanao Gordian Knot.
REWIND BACK TO PRESENT 2015. Zoom in to Muslim Mindanao. To divide this great land mass and adjacent islands into autonomous territories based PRIMARILY on religion, tribal groups or cultural justifications will be disastrous and can lead to civil war. Ethnic interests articulation can turn bloody if hot heads will claim: Why can’t there be ALSO an Ilocos Autonomous Region, Tagalog Autonomous Region, Bicol Autonomous Region, Cebuanons or Hiligaynons Autonomous Region. Philippines can then be disemboweled, dismembered into blood flowing little countries of cultural fiefdoms of hundreds of cultural minorities.
To accede and acquiesce to such political accommodation make specific groups of citizens special. Special and unequal before the law and in the eyes of God. Special against hardships and favoured with blessings from the government. Special in the enjoyment of democracy having special freedoms of speech, religion, from fear and want.
Autonomous regions goes against the grain of globalization, of assimilation, of Pope Francis’ journey of solidarity, of Prophet Mohammed’s teachings. In a democracy regardless of religious or political affiliations, language or ethnic backgrounds everybody is equally special to make everybody common citizens.
WHAT THEN should be pursued between 2015 and 2030 particularly in keeping intact and solid a multi-ethnic polity. It used to be three: just Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It became eleven in 1972. Now in 2015 the regions had increased to seventeen (17). Twelve regions could be the best experimental number. How to reconstruct this proliferated regional model governance into a manageable twelve: I might yet but it is a long shot, in future write ups attempt to tackle the mechanics of the process.
Suffice at the moment to suggest examples of successful experiments of regional governance by UK’s England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (spawned by colonialism without even a written constitution) ; of the 50 united states of America (sired by revolt and civil war), 14 provinces and First Nations territories of Canada, of the 6 states and territories of Australia (formerly the continent-size island penal colony of UK). But be wary of the struggling ones in other parts of the world like Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The essence of regional government is self reliance not parasitism from periphery to the center. Regions work and succeed with what they have in natural and human resources NOT with what they can get from the national government as permanent DEPENDENTs. It is also motivated sharing a little to other laggard regions their surplus for diligence and hard work.
Regional governments autonomy is not about freely deciding on what has been received from the taxes of the citizens at large but striving to reduce and eliminate dependence to other regions.. Regional governance should be an effective more stick and less carrots to make Provincial Governments to ship up. Among regions and among provinces, it is the constant challenge and competition to keep up with if not go ahead of the others. It is not about religion and prayers. IT IS MOVE YOUR BUTT OR BUST.
FAST FORWARD TO PH2030. To the Islamic world or the world of Islam, our Muslim brothers in Mindanao after fifteen years seemed content and proud that even without natural wealth coming from inland oil deposits, they have pushed aside centuries old blockade of human progress; by their honest toil. Without their guns and bombs they have advanced significantly in the pursuit of social and economic equality among fellow Filipinos.
That through their own governance, being farmers, fisherman, small businessmen and merchants and professionals in the sciences and the arts and being honest public servants, they can compete and even beat their Christian brothers in carrying out socio-economic change and achieving progress. BY REMAINING AS INTEGRAL PART OF THE PHILIPPINES.
What brought about such dramatic dreamlike change was the miracle that took place in the hearts and minds of both Filipino Muslim and Christian political leaders to be little patriots, REHABILITATED to be honest and upright, to have unleashed their talents and skills in the service of their 60 million disadvantaged countrymen.
What beautifully happened in Mindanao regions is a consequence of the leave the regions alone policy to let the people find and prove their rightful place under Philippine sovereignty like mini models of unified North and South Vietnam or worst the differentiated North and South Korea.
If there will be odorous CHA-CHA, este constitutional change before, on, or after the 2016 National Elections, there should be an ARTICLE on Twelve Independent Regions of the Philippines. The Twelve Regions need just one and only one mini constitution. *****