Rappler's latest stories on federalism in the Philippines
Duterte federalism campaign goes online during pandemic
The Duterte government gives a quota of at least 100,000 signatures per region
Still with no ASF zoning plan, DA wants pork bans lifted
'Our eagerness to protect, the intention is good. [But] the process should not actually violate...the privileges of others,' says Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan

MWF tapes episodes for 'Aksyonovela TV' weekly online wrestling show
New 'Aksyonovela TV' episodes air every Wednesday night on Manila Wrestling Federation's YouTube channel

Still about drugs: Duterte’s other reason for giving up on federalism
The President fears local governments would be vulnerable to the spread of drugs under a federal form of government

Ex-WWE wrestler Ho Ho Lun is new MWF champion
Ho Ho Lun defeats longtime rival and inaugural Manila Wrestling Federation champion Robin Sane at MWF 10: Republika

Thoughts about charter change
What I learned from following the initiative for decades

No mention of federalism in Duterte’s meeting with governors, mayors
Instead, President Duterte reminds local chief executives of the anti-drug campaign and warns them about supporting communist rebels

Gov't to still pursue Cha-Cha, federalism despite non-mention in SONA
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año says the charter change task force he heads will continue its work, believing the President still thinks federalism is a 'priority'

Malacañang fails to liquidate P10M of federalism fund
State auditors flag the Presidential Communications Operations Office for unliquidated funds, and the legislative liaison office for overspending on hiring of consultants
[ANALYSIS] Work on alternatives and growth, before speeding into federal system
What we should be speeding up in the second half of the administration is more policy reform and economic growth, not changing parts and engines

Philippines holds midterm polls seen as final step in Duterte consolidation
'This could be a watershed moment in Philippine politics and governance, the final step of consolidation by the Duterte family of its dominance over the political elite,' says political analyst Antonio La Viña

Malacañang respects Sara Duterte's opposition to federalism
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says the presidential daughter's stance will not affect the administration's push for a shift to a federal system of government

Sara Duterte opposes federalism
The President's daughter takes a different stance from her father, saying federalism in Mindanao may only empower 'warlords'

[ANALYSIS] 6 economic issues senatorial bets ought to be talking about
Here’s a suggestion: if a candidate can’t be bothered to show up in debates and lay bare their ideas for all to see, let’s not vote for him or her

Duterte: Misuari threatened war if federalism doesn't happen
President Duterte says negotiations with Misuari about the federalism that the MNLF wants should be done in public, through a panel to be formed by the Palace

Philippine pork safe, not affected by African swine fever – hog producers
There's no need to rely on imports amid fears of African swine fever reaching the country, as there is enough pork in the Philippines

Philippines deadliest country for journalists in Southeast Asia – IFJ
The International Federation of Journalists report celebrates the resilience of Filipino journalists, saying they 'remain just as jealously protective of their rights and freedoms'

'Pinakawalanghiya': Opposition hits House's draft charter
Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao says the proposed constitution 'represents everything that is wrong with our government'

House approves draft federal constitution
But the draft federal charter's chances of getting signed into law remain bleak, with senators earlier saying it would be 'dead on arrival' at the Senate

Camarines Norte mayor laments 'disappointing' federalism roadshow in Albay
Jose Panganiban town Mayor Ricarte Padilla says the speakers failed to meet the basic expectation of the participants, some of whom traveled for over 5 hours to attend the event

Harry Roque: Overhauling Constitution for federalism ‘not realistic’
If he becomes senator, Roque would back only 3 changes to the 1987 Constitution, rather than a sweeping revision as proposed by Duterte's Consultative Committee and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

LIST: Major constitutional changes the House wants under federalism
No term limits for lawmakers, no anti-dynasty provision, the return of the two-party system – here are the major changes the House included in its draft federal charter

House approves draft federal constitution on 2nd reading
Lawmakers give their nod to Resolution of Both Houses 15 after dedicating only 3 days of plenary sessions for debates

House ends debates on draft federal constitution
Alliance of Concerned Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio fails to block the motion to terminate the debates at the plenary after only 3 session days

College degree requirement for elected officials anti-poor – lawmaker
The House's draft federal constitution adds a college degree among the requirements for those running for president, vice president, senator, and representative

[OPINION] Why federalism won't work with political dynasties in power
Dynastic politicians will not hesitate to hijack the federalism agenda to perpetuate themselves in their positions of power

House panel puts Robredo back in line of succession under draft charter
As agreed upon by the plenary in October, the House committee on constitutional amendments holds an executive session to approve the amendment in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo

Where do 2019 senatorial bets stand on key national issues?
When the senatorial campaigns kick off, check the candidates' claims against this list of issues that have so far made headlines in 2018

Highlights of the House's draft federal constitution
(UPDATED) Here are the key provisions under each article of the draft federal charter authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers

House to put Robredo back in line of succession of draft constitution
The House agrees to return the draft constitution to the constitutional amendments panel, which will make the necessary changes in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo

Robredo: Critics ‘too desperate’ to remove me
Vice President Leni Robredo also slams House committee on constitutional amendments chair Vicente Veloso for his defense of the proposed provision removing her in the line of succession

House aims to pass draft federal charter by early 2019
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has given the House committee on constitutional amendments marching orders to finish work on the proposed new charter 'on time'

No set number of federal states under Arroyo’s draft constitution
It leaves it with local government units to group themselves and petition Congress to turn them into autonomous states or regions

'Dead on arrival': Senate leaders reject Arroyo's draft charter
'We don't have time to even talk about it,' says Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who stands to benefit from the House proposal

Robredo camp: 'Outright ridiculous' to remove VP as Duterte's successor
'Since when did a pending election protest become the basis of succession to the highest position of the land?' asks Romulo Macalintal, election lawyer of Vice President Leni Robredo

House draft charter skips VP in line of succession to avoid 'instability'
The chairman of the House panel on constitutional amendments says future developments in the vice presidential electoral protest may encourage 'military adventurists' to attempt a power grab

11-year-old PH wushu athlete dead after falling from bunk bed
Junior wushu fighter Rastafari Daraliay died after a freak accident in the athletes’ dorm at the Rizal Memorial Complex
No budget for federalism plebiscite in 2019, says Comelec
The Commission on Elections will need P6-8 billion if the federalism plebiscite pushes through, says poll chief Sheriff Abas

NEDA pitches roadmap for federalism shift
The National Economic Development Authority proposes that the shift to federalism should be carried out in 5 phases spanning 15 years

Federalism shift to cost only P13B, says Consultative Committee
The figure is much smaller than those given by the National Economic and Development Authority and think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies

Why should Filipinos fund P100-M campaign for 'uncertain' federalism?
'Mukhang waste of funds ang nakikita natin dito,' says ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio

Con-Com hopes Duterte won't quit before transition to federal government
The presidency of Rodrigo Duterte 'is the best chance we’ve got to shift to a federal system of government,' says Consultative Committee spokesman Ding Generoso

Dominguez warns unclear federalism proposal would scare investors
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III says foreigners 'will not invest' if the rules under federalism are not clear

[ANALYSIS] Why Duterte’s federalism endangers government’s finances
Unless we first fix existing regional economic disparities, Bayanihan Federalism will only leave more poor regions behind

Misleading: Senators 'block' approval of federalism budget
Senators are only questioning the P90-million budget for the information drive on federalism

Business groups support economic managers over federalism risks
The groups 'echo the concerns of fiscal and economic experts about the ambiguous provisions on the division of revenue and expenditure responsibilities' under federalism

[OPINION] Con-Com draft constitution sets Comelec in the right direction
Under current laws, the Commission on Elections is both an administrator and a quasi-court. Its split personality presents a lot of complications.

[OPINION] Bangsamoro sub-state, not federalism
This political nonsense about 'federalism' should be stopped as an exercise in political witchcraft

Federalism probe, Grab pricing, PH weather | Evening wRap
Watch Rappler’s evening newscast with Chay Hofileña

Grace Poe wants Senate probe into federalism info campaign
Public 'officials must at all times exercise professionalism in the performance of their functions,' Senator Grace Poe says in her resolution
