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Monday, April 03, 2006
Signature drive for Charter change takes effect in Cordi
A TOTAL of 4,780 Ifugaos already signified their approval on plans to amend the 1987 Constitution through a people's initiative.
Expected to rise in the succeeding days, the number are among the 89,741 registered voters in the province.
The number represents more than three percent of the targeted signatures of registered voters in the province for Charter change through a people's initiative.
During the general assembly of the different barangays in Ifugao, the interior department conducted an information drive on the rationale behind people's initiative as a means to amend the Constitution.
Barangay Ambabag Chairman Florencio Danglay said he favors Charter change because he wants a change in the system of government. He added that the present system of government is disorderly and chaotic, which impedes the country's development.
But as a general feedback, others are reluctant to forge their signature for people's initiative since there is inadequate information dissemination.
In Mountain Province, the signature campaign is ongoing in some areas.
Interior Assistant Provincial Director Rufina Fegcan said some barangay officials and community members are initiating the signature campaign but she did not say how many have already signed to date.
Fegcan clarified that the interior department has no direct hand in the gathering of signatures but only disseminate information about the proposed Charter change.
Some residents also complained that the document just contained general statements and no details on what specific provisions are to be amended. This resulted in some withholding their signatures until they understand what the campaign is all about. Others, meanwhile, commented that they are just being misled.
Others readily signed, saying this is the only chance in which the Charter will be amended to correct the provisions that have been hampering the progress of the country.
They added that a shift from presidential to unicameral-parliamentary form of government will be better, unlike now in which the legislative and the executive which have separate powers, are always at odds and blaming each other for the country's failure to move forward.
Interior Provincial Director Robert Mangangey appealed to barangay officials to discuss Charter change in their barangay assemblies for their constituents to understand the issues.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia said a single legislative district that fails to gather the required three percent of its registered voters to support the people's initiative to revise the Constitution will "nullify the entire process".
In the case of Mountain Province, the proponents should gather at least 2,500 signatures or three percent of the registered voters.
The move to amend the Constitution through a people's initiative is being spearheaded by the Sigaw ng Bayan and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, a blanket organization of the leagues of elected officials.
A transitory provision in the proposed amendment in the Constitution is the synchronization of election in year 2010 from the president down to the barangays.
(April 3, 2006 issue)
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