The unitary state has existed in the Philippines for almost 500 years. Several efforts have already been made to decentralize the highly centralized unitary state. Federalism is the highest form of decentralization given its inherent principle of selfrule and shared rule between the national government and the local government units.

The Constitution is on its way and the people should be on board the President's' idea of what the Government should look like. Because everyone has their own self-interest, and the person is self-interest clash with, the government is able to pass laws for the benefit of instead of any one specific team. It is sometimes difficult to find out which one level of government ends and others begin. There are three ways of organizing the power of the national (or middle) and state (regional or local) governments: only, federal, and confederal. Every government focuses on almost all governmental powers in the only national government, in which the confederal system is scattered in the power of government in the region or local government. The federal system, which is also known as federalism, divides the power between the national t state government. Under federalism, at every level, the government is independent and has its own powers and responsibilities. Since it is often not clear whether a state or national government is subject to the law in a particular matter, the national and state governments alternate between cooperating and competing with each other.

The inefficiency of the government can be possibly attributed with the type of system it is anchored. When the administrative system allows concentration of power, government functions can be prone to flagrant abuses. Same goes when it limits the capabilities of other political entities, encountered problems may not be fully addressed. On the other hand, when a system permits the decentralization of powers to sub-political units, the issue of uniformity and the absence of a central controlling body may arise. Any system has its own hues of advantages and limitations. Likewise, the environment and numerous factors can determine the conduciveness of a government system. This research paper will tackle one of the widely debated topics in the Philippine political arena—the feasibility of federal government.

The quest towards an authentic political decentralization remains to be realized despite th« presence of adequate public policies. The Philippine government has mode several attempts to effect a genuine autonomy, e.g., the Decentralization Act of1967, the 1983 LocalGovernment Code, the 1987 Constitution, among others. However, the recognition ofthe local government autonomy has been largely viewed from theframework ofa unitary political structure wherein the local government units are not considered sovereign and most of their operationsi functions and powers are limited and coturolled by the national government. This prompted some groups to consider the i4ea of federalism as an alternative strategy for regional and national development on the basis of the country's socioeconomic , political and cultural diversities.

Former Vice President Salvador Laurel in 1989 noted that “Federalism rests on the principle that the smallest unit of government knows what is best for its constituent needs. Decisions should, therefore, be made by the local, municipal, provincial, city or regional levels of governments, because they know best who need help and how to help them.” Federalism would allow regions to create solutions to their own problems as elected officials are closer to their districts and will better represent their interests. While some autonomy has been afforded LGUs, it is mainly administrative, not economic.

Federalism is the mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general government (the central or 'federal' government) with regional governments (provincial, state, cantonal, territorial or other sub-unit governments) in a single political system. Its distinctive feature, exemplified in the founding example of modern federalism by the United States of America under the Constitution of 1787, is a relationship of parity between the two levels of government established. [1] It can thus be defined as a form of government in which there is a division of powers between two levels of government of equal status. [2] Federalism differs from confederalism, in which the general level of government is subordinate to the regional level, and from devolution within a unitary state, in which the regional level of government is subordinate to the general level. [3] It represents the central form in the pathway of regional integration or separation, [4] bounded on the less integrated side by confederalism and on the more integrated side by devolution within a unitary state. [5]