Treñas starts Cha-cha initiative
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas reiterated last week the need for constitutional change through people's initiative even as he urged all local officials to start the ball rolling for a serious discussion on constitutional reforms at the grassroots level.
In a brief statement, Mayor Treñas, who is also president of League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), underscored the LCP's stand on charter change.
"The LCP has always been supportive of constitutional amendments through people's initiative," Treñas said.
He further recalled, "In December 2000 the LCP (issued) a resolution for amendments to the constitution (calling) for a shift to the parliamentary, federal type (of government) so that government will be more responsive to the needs of the people, avoiding gridlock, and giving more focus on local autonomy – the provinces, cities, and barangays."
Treñas has apparently placed himself at the forefront of the charter change initiative in this city, calling on barangay officials to start the campaign for constitutional change within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Treñas's move mirrors a similar stirring within other local government units across the country. Recently, Belison, Antique Mayor Christopher Piccio, Press Relation Officer of the League of Municipalities, issued a statement in support of charter change.
"The Arroyo administration has already put in place the badly needed economic reforms; what are needed now are the equivalent political reforms to create a Philippine environment conducive to fast-track growth with social equity."
Piccio said a House (of Representatives) plan to file a resolution this week to push plenary debates on the issue of Cha-cha would match the advocacy campaign by local government units on this critical issue of that of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) which is now on a provincial tour to enlighten the public on the benefits of constitutional reforms.
An LGU-based advocacy campaign to educate the public on the issue of Charter change has already begun in Central Luzon and in Bicol, led by Nueva Ecija Governor Tomas Joson and Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee.
The AdCom has also started its full scale drive in Luzon, visiting Baguio City and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Pangasinan.
The AdCom campaign in the Visayas opens in Panay with discussion forums set in San Jose, Antique this Monday and Iloilo City on Tuesday.
Mayor Treñas has encouraged barangay officials to take part in the forum to be held at Central Philippine University Tuesday afternoon.