City to host 2-day LCP confab
Iloilo City -- The League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP) will discuss the proposed change of government from presidential to parliamentary-federal form and the proposed scrapping of the 2007 elections in its scheduled conference here in the city on January 23-24, 2006.
Mayor Jerry Treņas, LCP president, said the conference will be be attended by 117 city mayors in the country. In the same conference the league's stand on those issues would be known. The conference is sponsored by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and GTZ.
Two of the LCP members who joined the Constitutional Commission (ConCom) will render their assessment on the proposed change of government. They are Mayor Mel Sarmiento of Calbayog and Oscar Rodriguez of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The proposal to cancel the 2007 elections and extend the term of elective officials gathered mixed reactions from different sectors. There were insinuations that the commissioners were handpicked to serve the interest of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This was denied by members of the 54-man Concom in their consultation held in Iloilo City late last year. The recommendations of the Concom are still subject for ratification in a plebiscite.
As to date, Treņas refused to give his specific stand on the plan to scrap the 2007 elections. However, he said everything should be weighed down. The holding of the elections should synchronize with the proposed change of government.