CAPAS, Tarlac -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) rolled out Thursday, November 21, the Constitutional Reform (CoRe) Roadshow in Tarlac.
DILG provincial director Belina Herman emphasized the need to reform the 1987 constitution, which has not yet been amended, to spread the economic progress in all regions.
“I am from Leyte and I can attest that the development in our region is not as fast as the development here in Central Luzon,” she stated.
In her presentation, she cited the existing problems under the unitary system such as political dynasty, weak political party system, personality-based politics, turncoatism and urban development caused by centralization fund.
“To solve these problems, CoRe has proposed surgical amendments in a message house that consists four main pillars,” Herman said.
These pillars are Pagyamanin ang Probinsya, Paluwagin ang Metro Manila; Gobyerno para sa Tao, hindi para sa Trapo; Bukas na Ekonomiya nang Lahat ay may Pag-asa; and Bagong Konstitusyon para sa Bagong Henerasyon.
Proposals under the first pillar include constitutionalizing of Mandanas ruling which will increase the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) being given to local government units (LGUs) and establishment of Regional Development Authorities that will make the current recommendatory Regional Development Councils into decision-making bodies.
“Aside from these, CoRe advocacy aims to change the existing bases of IRA into a new set of criteria that are responsive to the needs of the LGUs. From the criteria of population, land area and equal sharing, the proposed criteria will be poverty incidence, geographic peculiarities, level of locally resourced revenues and level of financial management,” she said.
Meanwhile, municipal local government operations officer Bryan Rivera discussed the second pillar which tackles campaign finance transparency, anti-turncoatism and anti-political dynasty.
“To ensure a government for the people and not for traditional politicians, CoRe also proposes the strengthening of political parties as democratic and principle-based institutions,” Rivera said.
He added that the removal of the explicit foreign equity limitations is being pushed under the third pillar.
“Congress shall be given the power to enact changes as they deem necessary,” he said.
In the four and last pillar, Rivera said the constitutional amendments will contribute in meeting the needs and reflecting the aspirations of the present generation.
Activities in the roadshow include a Media Briefing, Townhall Meeting with local chief executives, CoRe Talk with the youth sector and the Balangayan 2019: CoRe Convention Rally that was attended by barangay officials.
Tarlac was the fourth to hold the roadshow in Central Luzon after Bataan, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.
A similar event will be held this last week of November in Aurora, Zambales and Pampanga. (PIA-Central Luzon)