Region 8 leaders advocate ConCom proposals

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 9, 2005

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Various leaders in Eastern Visayas openly advocates the approval of the Constitutional Commission proposals. They all agree that the Concom proposals are mere recommendations which will still be deliberated and discussed in Congress. The last say will be that of the people, whether or not the people will check yes when the proposals are presented to them for approval through a referendum.

Governor Ben Evardone, spokesperson of the ULAP, stressed that Chacha  was not designed to benefit one person or particular groups. It is intended to overhaul the country’s political and economic system to address the 21st century under a new world order. If the country will continue not to address the faults of the present system, the country will continue to lag behind its neighbors in terms of development.

Congresswoman Remedios Petilla of the first district of Leyte, in a gathering of the elective officials of the first district, explained that the Concom proposals are mere recommendations which Congress will deliberate when the session reopens. In the end, it will be the people who will decide whether or not they will approve the proposals, through a referendum, the lady solon said. It is therefore, imperative that the local government officials help in educating the people on the Concom proposals so that the people will be able to have an enlightened decision.

Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias, chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas expressed support to the Concom proposals, so do, the other local government executives in the province. The lady governor asserted that the No-el recommendation will ensure an unimpeded local governance and project implementation without the thought of a political campaign coming very soon.

The League of Municipalities Leyte Chapter president Mayor Carlos Cari of Baybay revealed, that majority of the members of the league are agreeable to the proposals of Concom. Saying that the presidential form of government has lost its effectiveness, Mayor Cari said it is time the country adopts a form of government that will meet the challenges of the 21st century. The question is not whether or not the proposal will favor a person or a group, but whether or not the proposals will answer the needs of the country for a more vibrant and more effective form of government.

In a television interview, Mayor Gerardo S. Espina Sr. of Naval who was the proponent of the No-El proposal of the Constitutional Commission, said that even when he was still a congressman, he was already proposing that the elections be synchronized to minimize the government’s election expense. He clarified that the proposal was not meant to favor a person or any group but to put a transition period so that there will be no disruption in government bureaucracy. He said, this will even affect him personally because instead of being able to run as a congressman soon, he will have to remain as mere mayor until 2010.