Born: United States of the Philippines (USP) - CHA-CHA for the Federal States Philippines

The Federal States of the Philippines

Speaking at a briefing for reporters in Malacañang Monday, Leonen explained the ramifications of the agreement's provisions for a transition from the ARMM to Bangsamoro by 2016.

"Insofar as the major political commitments are made by this administration in that framework agreement, we see no necessity for now to amend the Constitution," Leonen said.

Charter Change is required to legalized the new autonomous State in the Southern Philippines.

The previous 14^th congress resolution approved the proposed Federal States of the Philippines which could be seen in this link. Though several changes are expected but the planned Charter Change for the new constitution was approved by the majority member of the senate during the 14^th congress.

Senate of the Philippines, 14th Congress, April 23, 2008, retrieved 2008-04-25 Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.; Egardo Angara, Rdudolfo Biazon, Pia "Compañera" Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregario Honasan, Panfilo lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Manuel "Manny" Vilar (23 April 2008), Joint Resolution No. 10: A Joint Resolution to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly for the purpose of revising the constitution to establish a federal system of government, Senate of the Philippines.

The 12 States of the Federal Philippines (USP)

Federal Administrative Region Manila (MLA)

The State of Northern Luzon (NL)
The State of Central Luzon (CL)
The State of Southern Tagalog; (ST)
The State of Bicol (BIC)
The State of Minparom (MIN)
The State of Eastern Visayas (EV)
The State of Central Visayas (CV)
The State of Western Visayas (WV)
The State of Northern Mindanao (NM)
The State of Southern Mindanao (SM)
The State of Zamboanga (ZA)
The Sultanate State of Sulu and the BangsaMoro (SSB)

Federal Administrative State Manila (ASM) The area known as Metropolitan or Metro-Manila is hereby constituted as a Federal Administrative State. It shall comprise the following cities of:

Manila City
Quezon City
Makati City
Mandaluyong City
Pasay City
Pasig City
Caloocan City
Muntinlupa City
Las Piñas City
Para ñaque City
Malabon City
Marikina City
Taguig City
Navotas City
Valenzuela City
San Juan City and the municipality of Pateros, and all the barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by Congress, it shall be the seat of the Executive Department.

1.) The State of Northern Luzon (NL), Capital Tuguegarao City

The State of Northern Luzon (NL) shall comprise the provinces of llocos Norte, llocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tuguegarao City shall be the capital of the State.

2.) The State of Central Luzon (CL), Capital Tarlac City

The State of Central Luzon (CL) shall comprise the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, and the Scarborough shoals and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tarlac City shall be the capital of the State

3.)The State of Southern Tagalog (ST), Capital Tagaytay City)

The State of Southern Tagalog (ST) shall comprise the provinces of Rizal, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Tagaytay City shall be the capital of the State.

4.)The State of Bicol(BIC) , Capital Legazpi City shall comprise the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Legazpi City shall be the capital of the State

5.) The State of Minparom (MIN) , Capital Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental shall comprise the provinces of Mindoro Oriental. Mindoro Occidental, Palawan, Romblon and Marinduque and the Island, Islets, shoal and reefs that are collectively called the Kalayan Islands or the Spratlys, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental shall be the capital of the State

6.) The State of Eastern Visayas (EV) , Capital Catbalogan City shall comprise the provinces of Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Eastern Samar and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Catbalogan City shall be the capital of the State.

7.) The State of Central Visayas (CV) , Capital Toledo City shall comprise the provinces of Masbate, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Toledo City shall be the capital of the State.

8.) The State of Western Visayas (WV) , Capital lloilo City shall comprise the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, lloilo City shall be the capital of the State

9.) The State of Northern Mindanao (NM) , Capital Cagayan de Oro City shall comprise the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Lanao del Norte, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Cagayan de Oro City shall be the capital of the State.

10.) The State of Southern Mindanao (SM), Capital Davao City shall comprise the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Davao City shall be the capital of the State.

11.) The State of Zamboanga (ZA) , Capital Zamboanga City shall comprise the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays, islands, and reefs therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Zamboanga City shall be the capital of the State.

12.) The Sultanate State of Sulu and the BangsaMoro (SSB), Capital Isabela City, Basilan or Marawi City shall be the capital of the State shall comprise the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, (Shariff Kabunsuan)', Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein. Until provided otherwise by the State Legislature, Isabela City, Basilan or Marawi City shall be the capital of the State.

The old Sultanate of Sulu comprise the North Borneo, Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, tawi-tawi, kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratlys) and all island, islet and reefs in the Sulu Sea and North borneo

PIMENTEL FILES RESOLUTION ON FEDERAL SYSTEM

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0423_pimentel1.asp

CARMONA, CAVITE -- Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said he has completed the draft of a resolution calling on Congress to amend the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for the adoption of a federal system to replace the highly-centralized unitary system of government.

Pimentel said the federalization of the republic is meant to accomplish two main goals: 1. Cause the speedy development of the entire country by unleashing the forces of competitiveness among the component federal states, and 2. Dissipate the causes of rebellion in the country, particularly in Mindanao.

"The federal proposal will hopefully provide a just and lasting redress of the grievances of the powerless and the neglected sectors of society, like the Moro peoples of Mindanao," the opposition senator said in a keynote address at the seminar on federalism hereunder the auspices of the UP Center for Local and Regional Governance/National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP CLRG/NCPAG) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Manila Southwoods, Golf Country Club, Carmona, Cavite.

Under the 63-page resolution, Pimentel proposed the creation of 11 federal states out of the existing political subdivisions of the country, and one federal administrative region.

To be established are the federal states of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Bicol and Southern Tagalog in Luzon; the federal states of Minparom (Mindoro-Palawan-Romblon-Marinduque), Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Western Visayas in the Visayas and the federal states Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Sultanate State of Sulu and the Bangsamoro in Mindanao.

Metro Manila will be converted into a federal administrative region along the lines of Washington D.C. in the United States, New Delhi in India or Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

"The move to federalize the country is not simply a 'political' undertaking. It is also an economic effort. By creating 11 federal states and by converting Metro Manila as a federal administrative region, we immediately establish 12 centers of power, finance and development throughout the country," Pimentel said.

In contrast, he said that under the existing unitary system that has characterized the government for centuries, the country had only one center of power, finance and development - Metro Manila.

Pimentel said the boundaries of the federal states will cut across the present regional boundaries. He said he has recommended that the component states be constituted out of bigger political territories to provide the environment for competitiveness and sustainability rather than create states and provinces that in many instances might simply be too small to survive as a state.

The resolution defines the territory of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines and unequivocally includes the Scarborough Shoal as part of Central Luzon and the Kalayaan Islands as part of the Minparom region.

Pimentel said the resolution disperses the seats of power of the three major branches of government. Thus, the executive department will hold offices in the Federal Administrative Region of Metro Manila, the legislative department in the Federal State of Central Visayas and the judicial department in the Federal State of Northern Mindanao.

"By doing so, the two other geographical regions of the country, the Visayas and Mindanao will now fully appreciate that they are important parts, and merely appendices - of the Republic," he said.

In terms of allocating the resources of the Republic, Pimentel said a formula is provided in the resolution: 30 percent will go to the Federal Government and 70 percent to the component states. Of the 70 percent accruing to the states, 30 percent will go to the state governments and 70 percent to the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays.

The resolution will require the revision of 14 of the existing 18 Articles of the Constitution and the addition of two new Articles. It was prepared by Pimentel upon the request of some of his colleagues in the Senate and House of Representative, some local government officials and friends from the non-government organization sector.

Senate of the Philippines