While I respect the opinion of those who agree with President Duterte that there are benefits to some select Philippine regions if we are to adopt the federal form of Government, there are enough outspoken critics of federalization who see that the costs far outweigh the benefits.  The battle cry of the “federalists” is “decapitate Imperial Manila”.   We may all agree with this objective that can greatly contribute to inclusive growth.  But there are other ways of skinning the imperialist cat.  Just recently President Duterte himself suggested an effective way of decapitating the National Capital Region.  Just wait until this traffic-infested Metropolis choke itself to death.  Other regions will automatically blossom after the “death” of Metro Manila.  Among the most likely candidates that will benefit from the travails of Manila will be the Metro Clark region, the Metro Batangas area and such other second-tier cities as Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos City.  With the right political leaders, these very promising satellite urbanized regions will naturally evolve into federal states on their own.