Ilonggo execs back 'ULAP sa TOP' cha-cha drive
ABUEVA
Validation is now underway with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on over 8 million signatures gathered thus far from the intense signature drive of charter change advocates.
With summits, advocacy trainings and consultations currently led by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), local officials from Masbate, Catanduanes and elsewhere of the Ilocos and Cordillera Region met up yesterday (Tuesday) with Ilonggo counterparts here.
Undersecretary Ray Roquero led national executives in town for the "Visayan blitz" that kicked off in Iloilo with Board Member Cecilia Capadosa of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) amongst the provincial officials present. Similar gatherings were also held in the island-province of Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Siquijor and Southern Leyte.
Today ULAP trainors sets up base for advocacy and orientation training in Southern Luzon provinces of Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon and the provinces of Benguet and Mountain Province.
Noted professor and former University of the Philippines President Jose Abueva spoke before the Ilonggo mayors, vice mayors, and town councilors.
In an interview, Abueva told Capitol reporters, "it is time for change and People's Initiative is our best option."
"We need to remind ourselves that we are not really making any progress as a country. In fact, we are left behind by our neighbors in the region - South Korea, Taiwan, we are left behind by industrialization," Abueva began. "And there's poverty where the gap between the rich and the poor is even wider. There's also social inequality, inadequate basic delivery of social services and lack of good governance. We are simply in a bad shape."
Yet the way to charter change is not easy, Abueva acknowledged, reason why he and fellow advocates are bent on reaching out to the community.
"What is prescribed by law is only about 5.2 million of the 40 million registered voters. We are way beyond that mark," he added.
In a news release, key figures in ULAP cha-cha drive disclosed of significant results as it now pushed for "ULAP sa TOP (Tamang Oras at Panahon) program."
PBMLP national president Allan Zulueta said some 100 local officials and representatives of non-government organizations in Masbate have committed to push the "ULAP sa TOP" campaign on constitutional reforms at the municipal and barangay levels while another batch of 50 new recruits in Catanduanes have also volunteered to lead the drive on charter change in that province. Zulueta chairs the ULAP advocacy committee on Cha-cha.
The program as designed is expected to reap "sweeping reforms that will put an end to decades of political conflict along with other stumbling blocks to rapid economic growth."
"Earlier, ULAP's first week of nationwide consultations on Charter change yielded close to 6,400 converts in Luzon and the Visayas to the proposed adoption of a unicameral parliamentary government in place of our US-style bicameral presidential system which for decades has undercut political stability and economic growth," the news release continued. "To ensure intensive discussions on Charter change and broaden public support for the People's Initiative, ULAP is taking steps to seal the active participation in these consultative meetings of various sectors, most especially religious groups, pastoral councils, civic clubs and NGOs."