Dumaguete City is the next stop for the Charter Change Travelling Forum this month as a team from the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference (BBC) and the Advocacy Commission (AdCom) are set to hold a multi-sectoral forum here on May 24 (Wednesday) at the Fleur de lis Hall, St. Paul University-Dumaguete.
The forum, held in coordination with the Diocese of Dumaguete and the Philippine Information Agency, is designed to inform and dialogue with people on Constitutional reform. This also aims to tackle proposals for and against Charter Change.
Invited reactors during the forum are: Gov. George Arnaiz; Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. President Alex Sy; Silliman University President Dr. Agustin Pulido; Rev. Fr. Gamaliel Tulabing; and Atty. Teodoro Cortez of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen in the Philippines.
No less than AdCom Chairman Dr. Jose A. Abueva will present the proposed Charter Change before a multi-sectoral audience of 150 participants from the academe, non government and people’s organizations, local government units, students, businessmen, farmers groups and other sectors during the forum on May 24.
On the other hand, the presentation on the opposition to the proposed ChaCha will be done by AdCom Member Vicente Paterno.
Abueva and Paterno are part of the 55-member Constitutional Commission that was commissioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to study the needed amendments in the 1987 Constitution.
The President issued Executive Order No. 453 creating the ConCom to conduct consultations and studies and propose amendments and revisions to the 1987 Constitution, principally the proposal to shift from the presidential-unitary system to a parliamentary-federal system of government.
The Arroyo administration has earlier stressed the need for an enlightened debate on political renewal and not filibustering or impasse-building.
In line with this, AdCom is conducting a traveling multi-advocacy tour wherein advocacy sorties are done in key areas nationwide to address the apparent lack of public awareness on the proposed constitutional reform.
Recent Social Weather Station surveys have indicated that very few Filipinos actually understand the present Constitution, the system of government and the various proposals for amendments to the Charter.
In their nationwide sorties, the BBC commissioners tackle proposals for or against charter change and at the same time collate opinions and recommendations on charter change which will later be presented to key legislators and policy makers.
Local government units here, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the province, have also scheduled their own orientation-trainings on Charter Change in their respective areas.
The orientation-trainings will be conducted in the following LGUs: Canlaon City (May 26), Bais City (May 25), Tanjay City (May 23), Dumaguete City (May 22), Bayawan City (May 26), Vallehermoso (May 26), Guihulngan (May 25), La Libertad (May 26), Jimalalud (May 24), Tayasan (May 17), Ayungon (May 26), Bindoy (May 25), Manjuyod (May 26), Mabinay (May 26), Pamplona (May 26), Amlan (May 25), San Jose (May 25), Sibulan (May 26), Valencia (MAy 16), Bacong (MAy 26), Dauin (May 26), Zamboanguita (May 26), Siaton (May 25), Sta. Catalina (May 26), and Basay (May 25).
BM Saycon predicts pro-ChaCha landslide in NegOr if referendum pushes through
It’s a fearless forecast from Board Member Melimore Saycon who sees a landslide vote of “yes” to Charter Change in Negros Oriental should the referendum on the proposed constitutional reforms push through.
Negros Oriental has around 606,000 total registered voters and Saycon predicts that not less than 400,000 of them would vote in favor of Charter Change.
“This is my forecast, if the referendum pushes through, not less than 70 percent of the total registered voters in Negros Oriental would vote yes,” states Saycon.
Saycon’s prediction is largely based on the overwhelming support from majority of the chief executives in the local government units in the province.
“Ang local government officials dire gikan ni Governor Arnaiz, mga board members paingon sa mga mayor sa lima ka syudad ug beinte ka munisipalidad sa Negros are all supporting Charter Change,” says Saycon.
He stressed that the country needs a radical economic change and now is the right time for it. “In fact, ulahi na kita ug kinse ka tu-ig in changing our system. Hinog na ang panahon to shift into parliamentary system,” adds Saycon.
This was echoed by Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) who observed during a multi-sectoral forum held in Oroquieta City that a shift to parliamentary –unicameral form of government will give more autonomy for local government units and empower them to chart their own destiny.
Adamat said that the proposed constitutional revisions would benefit governance at the local levels as the current presidential-bicameral system is marginalizing the LGUs.
In the midst of ongoing heated debate over the proposed constitutional reforms, the Administration’s main concern is to lay down a solid political springboard for nation-building that would liberate the people from poisoned politics and build stability and shared prosperity into the long future.
NOPH holds medical-surgical mission for cataract patients
Provincial Health Officer Ely Villapando announced that there will be a medical-surgical mission for cataract patients on May 22 to 24, 2006 at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH).
Those who are interested to avail of the services are requested to register with the Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO) at NOPH. Registration started last May 11, 2006.
The medical-surgical mission is a project of the Negros Oriental provincial government in cooperation with the Philippine Rotary Association for Blindness Prevention and the Rotary Club of Dumaguete Foundation Inc.
PPOC seeks talks with gambling operators
SIQUIJOR -- The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) here invited gambling operators, particularly “suertres” financiers to a dialogue recently.
Suertres is illegally derived from the last three-digit lotto draw of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The meeting was aimed to discuss gambling as a live issue to resolve and to look into its implications to the Siquijorian community.
“We are all together in this effort to curb illegal gambling in our province, said Lazi Mayor Orville Fua who temporarily presided over the meeting.
Mayor Rebecca Padayhag of Maria disclosed knowledge that an influential person is behind it but she declined to elaborate.
“Whoever is behind it must be toppled down,” she said.
Padayhag however didn’t dismiss the fact that if it be cracked down, some people’s means of livelihood would be compromised.
The four suertres operators/financiers facing the council said they’re not just for the sake of raking in money out of it but helping the small people like bet collectors get through day by day from the little income they earned from it.
Disgusted, however, by one financier’s statement that he will only stop if other financiers stop, DTI Provincial Director Nimfa Vertucio said it’s plain absurd because she said illegal gambling is illegal per se and that it can’t be justified with whatever reasons or conditions.
“Our law enforcers and officials should have a stronger backbone in asserting the law,” she said.
Philippine National Police Provincial Director Orlando Ualat in response said that the law is the law, which excuses no one.
“If financiers continue to sustain their illegal operation, you can readily assume we will be forced to carry out the duties and obligations mandated to us,” Ualata said. We will continue to fine-tune our responsibilities of keeping peace and order and address needs and imperatives that may arise, he stressed.
Financiers, however, were given with option to make their activity lawful.
Mayor Richard Quezon of the municipality of Siquijor suggested to them putting up lotto outlets which is the best legal way of maintaining their operations.
On top of this burning local issue, the Catholic Church which is anti-gambling crusader disclosed that what is likewise more urgent is the giving out of dignified employment to the poor.
“Unless they have them, we can’t expect our province to be gambling-free,” one priest said.
City gov’t officials call for changes in the Constitution
To change or not to change the Constitution is the question that remains unanswered for now, setting off fiery debates in political circles in the country.
The 55-member Advocacy Commission (AdCom) is bringing the debate down to the grassroots level as it hops around the country holding multi-sectoral fora to raise public awareness and spur intelligent discussions on the proposed amendments to the Constitution.
For his part, Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices is not fully sold out to the government’s move to totally change the Constitution but admits that it needs to be “upgraded.”
He said that there are certain provisions in the Constitution that are no longer applicable today and thus an “upgrade” is needed.
On the other hand, Dumaguete City Councilor Dr. Noel de Jesus said that the Philippines is already 15 years late in changing its system of government.
Had we done this years ago, Philippines would not have been behind its Asian counterparts now, he stressed.
The councilor admits though that this might not be the right time to change Constitution in view of the country’s current state of economic affairs. “But , better late than never,” he quips.
De Jesus appealed to politicians and the different sectors of society to lay aside their differences and stop their political bickering to quicken the much-needed constitutional amendments and hence, speeding up the development of the country.
Malacañang has recently called on the Senate to support the Charter Change, particularly moves to shift to a parliamentary form of government even if this would mean the abolition of the chamber.
Speaker Jose de Venecia said that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s statement and the “quiet and constructive efforts” of El Shaddai leader Brother Mike Velarde have created a “significant breakthrough” in efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Over 8.9 million people have signed up to signify their support for the people’s initiative mode to amend the 1987 Constitution during the information drive initiated by the Union of Local Government of the Philippines.
De Jesus also lauded the government’s move to bring the political discussion down to the people by launching a national campaign to raise public awareness on constitutional reforms.
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier issued Executive Order No. 453 creating the 55-member Constitutional Commission to conduct consultations and studies and propose amendments and revisions to the 1987 Constitution.
A consultation will be done in Dumaguete City on May 24 at the Fleur de lis Hall, St. Paul’s University wherein discussions will be led by a team from the Advocacy Commission (AdCom) headed by its Chairman Dr. Jose A. Abueva.
Bayawan City gov’t conducts Halad sa Brgy
In order to bring the government closer to the people, the city government of Bayawan has initiated a “Halad sa Barangay” project in at least 15 barangays in Bayawan City from May 15 to June 2, 2006.
The activity is a brainchild of Bayawan City Mayor German P. Saraña Jr. and the City Public Safety Officer, Retired Col. Nicolas S. Noble in coordination with the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
Among the services given to the people in the 15 barangays are medical and dental check-up and distribution of medicines, services from the Local Civil Registrar, Assessor’s Office, Land Reform, City Treasurer, Legal Office, among others.
According to Jun Euraoba of the Bayawan City Public Safety Office, the city experienced an insurgency alarm in five barangays identified to be slowly being corrupted by leftist ideologies.
The barangays are namely, Dawis, Kalamtukan, Narra, Nangka and Maninihon. Indications of recruitment is again apparent in the said barangays formerly infiltrated by the leftist group.
The city government has foreseen the would be effects of this problem which is counter productive to the ongoing efforts of the government to uplift the living condition of the people, says Euraoba.
In view of this, he said the city government has started conducting counter-propaganda activity through the initiative of the City Public Safety Office.
One of the activities done under the city’s counter insurgency program is the conduct of Halad sa Barangay or the Community Assistance on Rural Empowerment through Social Services (CARESS).
Mayor Saraña believes the war against insurgency cannot be won by guns and bullets but by bringing the government closer to the people by providing them with the much needed services and livelihood.
Meanwhile, a job fair and Halad sa Katawhan will also be conducted at Bayawan City on May 26, 2006.
Among the government agencies who are expected to offer their services to the public during the said activity are TESDA, BIR, PRC, Postal Office, LTO, DSWD, GSIS, DTI, DOST, DA and DOH.
TESDA will offer free competency assessment for occupational titles/trade areas (test of knowledge only) on a first come-first served basis.
Those who are interested to avail of the services during the job fair and Halad sa Katawhan are required to register with the City Cooperative and Manpower Development Office, Annex Building, Bayawan City Hall.
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference of the Philippines (BBC) is conducting a nationwide traveling forum to initiate discussions with the people on constitutional reform in response to the urgent need to raise people’s awareness in the midst of social and political unrest in the country.
A team from the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) and the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference (BBC) will conduct a multi-sectoral forum in Dumaguete City on May 24, 2006 at the Fleur Delis Gymnasium, St. Paul University-Dumaguete from 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.
Invited local reactors during the forum are: Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. President Alex Sy; Silliman University President Dr. Agustin Pulido; Rev. Fr. Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing; Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce Inc. President Ernesto Quiamco; Atty. Teodoro Cortez and Governor George P. Arnaiz.
The forum will also be participated in by a multi-sectoral audience composed of representatives from the marginal sector, farmers groups, academe, students and NGOs.
The forum is conducted by BBC in coordination with NAMFREL Negros Oriental Chapter and the Philippine Information Agency.
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