“Change is coming." Who would forget the iconic tagline used by the present president Rodrigo Duterte in his campaign last 2016. Is change really coming in his presidency? From the first six months of the war on drugs, the president handled the drug issues in different ways than the other officials and it really change and minimize the drug cases in our country. One of the president's memorable 'change' is the rehabilitation or our famous vacation capital of the Philippines, Boracay. Though many opposed the rehabilitation, the outcome of the six-month rehabilitation was worth it.
As the word 'change' progress in his presidency, president Duterte has been eager in his proposed constitutional change. Which our government should shift into federal from unified government. The shift in the federal government might bring confusion over the power and authority. Unlike other countries who chose to form a unified government in their region than our country that from a unified government will be divided into regions. Political dynasties might further emerge as the federalism feels like in favour for them and specific clan might govern the region for a long time as when we shift into the federal government. The central government and the subordinate or regional government will have the same power and authority over their govern territories. We may expect political competition to happen because we cannot escape the comparison between two regions based on their leaders' leadership and the development of their region. Also, the constitutional revision might take longer than the constitutional amendments before it can pass the congress as constitutional revision will change the whole thing than the constitutional amendments that will just delete, add, or replace words but have the same meaning. Lastly, the reform might cost billions of pesos for its implementation.
In the future our government might change in a way that can further enrich or worsen our country. We, citizens should accept what will happen because the result is in our hands, as we are a republic.
This is an opinion paper. The article is based solely on my perspective.
