Speaker insists Charter should be attuned to changing times

MANILA, Philippines — The 31-year-old Constitution should be attuned to the digital age when the consultative committee led by retired chief justice Reynato Puno proposes its amendments to prepare the country’s shift from presidential to a federal system of government. 

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, a stalwart of the ruling PDP-Laban party of President Duterte, said the 1987 Constitution or the fundamental law of the land should be “responsive to changing times.” 

He believes the national government needs to enlighten the public about the real benefits of a federal form of government after a recent survey showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos oppose charter change.

“The survey tells us very clearly that we must come together and intensify the information, education and communication campaigns throughout the country to tell our people that we must revise the three-decades-old Constitution,” he said. 

He said the March 2018 Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia showing that three out of every four Filipinos or 75 percent have “little/almost none/no knowledge at all” about the 1987 Constitution underscores the need to step up the government campaign on federalism. 

Alvarez, a long-time advocate of federalism, said while the House is already doing its best to explain to Filipinos the benefits of the federal system over the current unitary system, “the big challenge is to make the information seep down to the grassroots.” 

“Our advocacy of the federal system is anchored on our firm belief that by giving the regions greater leeway in terms of powers and resources, we can unleash their potential to contribute to overall economic growth and social development for the long term,” he said.

Reps. Gus Tambunting (Parañaque) and Winston Castelo (Quezon City) both agreed.  

“This just reflects the need to really focus on educating and informing our citizens about what charter change really means. As the ultimate source of power in a democracy, the people must be heard on this matter,” Tambunting said. 

“Any proposal that would change the basic document, the contract between the state and its people must be clearly explained to enable the people to act wisely on the same. The best way is still a referendum,” he added.