A NEOPHYTE lawmaker on Saturday expressed belief that President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust rating of 91 percent in a recent independent poll conducted nationwide is expected to boost the ongoing campaign for Charter Change to usher in the shift to a federal system of government.
Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, one of the principal authors of proposals filed in the 17th Congress for federalism, said that now is the time to push for Charter Change through a Constitutional Convention to clear the way for the shift to a federal form of government because the President cannot be suspected of having any hidden political agenda in supporting such plans.
“The onset of the Duterte presidency is the perfect time to push for a Constitutional Convention because President Duterte has no political agenda and he is being trusted by more than 90 percent of Filipinos. All of his advocacies with good intentions are backed by his very strong political capital,” Villafuerte said.
President Duterte, former mayor of Davao City, has been strongly advocating the shift to a federal form of government as he believes that federalism would be the “most effective tool” to address income inequality and bring inclusive growth to the countryside.
The recent Pulse Asia survey conducted from July 2 to 8 showed President Duterte garnering an “excellent” trust rating of 91 percent. Duterte’s high trust rating cuts across all regions and social classes. He rated 97 percent in Mindanao, 89 percent in both Luzon and Visayas, and 92 percent in the National Capital Region. Based on social classes, Duterte obtained an 89-percent trust rating from the ABC class, and a high 92 percent from both the D and E classes.
Villafuerte, a three-term governor of Camarines Sur, given the very high trust rating of the President, both chambers of Congress must take advantage of such by pushing for the passage of separate resolutions filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvares and Sen. Franklin Drilon, separately, which both called for a Con-Con to propose amendments to certain provisions of the Constitution.
In the Lower House, Villafuerte authored House Bill1290 that seeks to reset the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls from Oct. 31 this year to Feb. 27, 2017, and HB 1241 that calls for the election of Con-Con delegates, also on Feb. 27.
He also filed a measure that seeks to save the government as much as P6 billion in poll-related expenses by holding three elections all at the same time next February.
Villafuerte maintained that postponing the October balloting for barangay and SK officials would give “a lot of breathing space” to Commission on Elections officials and employees, teachers and all others who were involved in the May 9 polls as well as to all Filipinos voters themselves.
“The President’s advocacy on federalism would stand to gain significantly from his excellent trust rating. This is a very positive sign for him to successfully push federalism,” LRay said.
Villafuerte said federalism would help free the provinces from the clutches of “Imperial Manila” and allow them to craft development agendas suited to their needs and unique characteristics.
“Should President Duterte make a push for federalism during his SoNA, this will be a big boost to our campaign to change the form of government,” Villafuerte said.