Concord information campaign to continue

Contrary to some sectors' perception, President Estrada has not dropped his proposed Constitutional Correction for Development (Concord) but has merely deferred it

This developed as Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, the President's number one critic, hailed him for his decision to set aside his plans to amend the Charter.

"We have to disseminate information (on Concord) but I have not dropped it," Mr. Estrada told reporters during the 53rd anniversary of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in Makati yesterday.

"I (still) believe this is one of the solutions for our economy to grow," he said.

The President, as he had promised in his Ulat sa Bayan (Report to the Nation) Saturday, avoided mentioning anything on Concord in his speech at the DBP rites.

He concentrated mainly on the DBP's role in the country's economic growth in the last half century which, he said, can only be sustained by more economic reforms.

But he never uttered a single word on his plan to amend the 1987 Charter.

After his speech, however, the President answered queries on Concord which he vowed to take up again once its benefits have been explained fully to the people.

"Our people must understand the objectives of Concord. This is only for our economy, to provide jobs for them (Filipinos) so our economy will progress," he said.

Some sectors earlier expressed belief that the President had permanently abandoned the Concord which was cited as one of the reasons for the big drop in his popularity.