The Urgency to Overhaul the System of Government in the Philippines: A Call for Inclusive Governance and National Development

By 

Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope
National Secretary-General
Timpuyog Pilipinas
 

The Philippines stands at a critical juncture in its history. Decades of corruption, elitism, insurgency, and economic inequality have kept the nation from reaching its full potential. At the heart of this persistent dysfunction is a flawed system of government that has largely served the interests of a few—powerful political dynasties and monopolistic business families—while sidelining the vast majority of Filipinos. To break free from this cycle, there is an urgent need to overhaul the current political structure and pave the way for a more inclusive, participatory, and equitable model of governance (Diamond & Morlino, 2005; Acemoglu & Robinson, 2012).

The current unitary, highly-centralized form of government has failed to address the diverse needs of the nation’s provinces and marginalized sectors. Metro Manila continues to dominate in terms of economic activity, infrastructure development, and political influence, while many provinces remain underdeveloped, neglected, or war-torn. This imbalance not only fuels social injustice but also breeds discontent, which insurgent movements exploit to further their cause (Gurr, 2015; Bahl & Linn, 2014). The failure to address the root causes of rebellion—poverty, landlessness, and lack of meaningful representation—has allowed insurgency to fester for over five decades (Collier & Hoeffler, 2004).

Moreover, political dynasties have entrenched themselves in local and national positions of power. These families treat public office as personal inheritance, often using their influence to secure business deals, suppress dissent, and monopolize economic opportunities. The result is a democracy in name only, where ordinary citizens find themselves excluded from meaningful participation in governance (Winters, 2011; Carothers, 2002). The same faces dominate elections, while young, capable, and independent leaders are either co-opted or shut out of the system entirely (Levitsky & Way, 2010).

Compounding this is the dominance of a few business conglomerates that enjoy special privileges and monopolies, stifling competition and innovation. These corporations often work hand in hand with politicians to protect mutual interests, to the detriment of the public (Stiglitz, 2012; Kang, 2002). The promises of trickle-down economics have long since proven false; the wealth of the nation is concentrated in the hands of the few, while the rest struggle with poor services, low wages, and rising prices (Piketty, 2014; Milanovic, 2016).

The solution lies in overhauling the system through a shift to a decentralized, possibly federal form of government that empowers local regions to manage their resources, create policies suited to their specific needs, and develop sustainably. Such a reform must be paired with a strong anti-dynasty law, political party reform, and campaign finance regulations to ensure a level playing field (Rodden, 2004; Norris & Grömping, 2019). Citizen participation must be institutionalized through inclusive mechanisms such as people’s councils, participatory budgeting, and localized oversight bodies (Fung, 2006; Gaventa, 2004).

Toeliminate insurgency and terrorism, the state must invest not just in military solutions but in education, agriculture, infrastructure, and job creation in neglected areas. Every province must become a center of opportunity—not just a footnote to Metro Manila’s development (Sen, 1999; OECD, 2020). Sustainable peace and progress are only possible when development is shared and inclusive.

The future of the Philippines depends on breaking the chains of elitism and exclusion. A restructured government—more representative, transparent, and accountable—is not just a political necessity but a moral imperative. Only through systemic change can we achieve a truly united, just, and prosperous nation for all Filipinos (Dahl, 1989; UNDP, 2022).

References

 

Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2012). Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. Crown Business.

Bahl, R., & Linn, J. (2014). Governing and financing cities in the developing world. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Carothers, T. (2002). The end of the transition paradigm. Journal of Democracy, 13(1), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2002.0003

Collier, P., & Hoeffler, A. (2004). Greed and grievance in civil war. Oxford Economic Papers, 56(4), 563–595. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpf064

Dahl, R. A. (1989). Democracy and its critics. Yale University Press.

Diamond, L., & Morlino, L. (2005). Assessing the quality of democracy. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Fung, A. (2006). Varieties of participation in complex governance. Public Administration Review, 66(s1), 66–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00667.x

Gaventa, J. (2004). Strengthening participation in local governance. Institute of Development Studies. https://www.ids.ac.uk/publications/strengthening-participation-in-local-governance/

Gurr, T. R. (2015). Why men rebel (40th Anniversary Edition). Routledge.

Kang, D. C. (2002). Crony capitalism: Corruption and development in South Korea and the Philippines. Cambridge University Press.

Levitsky, S., & Way, L. A. (2010). Competitive authoritarianism: Hybrid regimes after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press.

Milanovic, B. (2016). Global inequality: A new approach for the age of globalization. Harvard University Press.

Norris, P., & Grömping, M. (2019). Electoral integrity worldwide: A global report. Electoral Integrity Project.

OECD. (2020). Development cooperation report 2020: Learning from crises, building resilience. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/f6d42aa5-en

Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century (A. Goldhammer, Trans.). Harvard University Press.

Rodden, J. (2004). Comparative federalism and decentralization: On meaning and measurement. Comparative Politics, 36(4), 481–500. https://doi.org/10.2307/4150164

Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. Knopf.

Stiglitz, J. E. (2012). The price of inequality: How today’s divided society endangers our future. W. W. Norton & Company.

UNDP. (2022). Human Development Report 2021/2022: Uncertain times, unsettled lives: Shaping our future in a transforming world. United Nations Development Programme. https://hdr.undp.org/

Winters, J. A. (2011). Oligarchy. Cambridge University Press.