Regions

With some 175 ethnolinguistic groups spread across the vast archipelago of the Philippines, uniting remote regions and distinct communities under a national identity has been a challenging task for the central government. Political power gradually became concentrated in the present capital Manila under Spanish and US colonial regimes, and the notion of a strong central government was embraced by many of the initial post-colonial administrations. However, the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991 transferred more power to local government units. In order to promote development, resolve lingering tensions and attract investment in the regions, the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is trying to gain support for constitutional reform to establish a federalist system of government that hands more autonomy to the regions. This chapter also contains an interview with Vince Dizon, President and CEO, Bases Conversion and Development Authority.