This developed as the House of Representatives will start debates on the proposed Charter proposal tomorrow, with its backers and critics in the House Committee on Rules expected to argue over a move to pull out a proposed Concurrent Resolution from the assigned business.
De Venecia has endorsed the call for the barangay consultations but asked local government officials to complete the meetings within one month and forward their results.
Backers of the constitutional revision led by the Coalition of Citizens for Charter Change Now will be fielded to the country’s 42,000 barangays to explain fully the proposal, particularly the historic shift from presidential system to a unicameral parliamentary government and the eventual transition to a federal structure.
"The meetings are necessary in order to inform our people about the urgency of the reforms we seek," De Venecia explained.
He said further the 30 percent of Filipinos said to favor constitutional reforms as indicated in a recent public opinion survey is already a strong headstart since proponents have not actually undertaken any information campaign on Charter reform.
While the information drive is being conducted, lawmakers are expected to do their share by debating on the issue.
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Constantino Jaraula Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said he is confident of support by congressmen on the proposed resolution to constitute Congress into a constituent assembly for the purpose of amending the Constitution.
The resolution has long been approved by the House panel and was placed in the unassigned business agenda of the chamber.
House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles Jr. said the House Committee on Rules would discuss the resolution on Tuesday "so that we can forward it to the plenary for debates during the week."
There has been strong backing to the Charter proposals among various local government units in the country.
North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol admitted that an overwhelming majority of government and non-government organizations in Mindanao believe it is now time for Charter change.
Charter change proponents are out of touch – Satur
Bayan Muna Representative and Independent Bloc leader Satur C. Ocampo dubbed yesterday Charter Change proponents as "out of touch."
He said, "With due respect to Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr. and Bukidnon Rep. Miguel Zubiri, their views are clearly off the mark from what the people want: The removal of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and regime change."
"The Cha-Cha is a mere blip in the public opinion radar because people look at it now as a clear ploy of Mrs. Arroyo to escape retribution and removal," Ocampo said.
Ocampo doused claims that Cha-Cha is gaining more adherents.
"It is actually the same persons who want Arroyo to remain in office who are parotting the pro-ChaCha position," the Bayan Muna solon pointed out. "It is thus baseless to claim that Cha-Cha is gaining ground."
Ocampo said that what is rather proven in surveys is that more people are demanding President Arroyo’s ouster either through resignation or impeachment, which, he said, is "the true, impregnable national consensus."
The House Resolution 895 against Cha- Cha which Ocampo filed Thursday with 38 undersigned solons included new signatories: Deputy Speaker Benigno Aquino III (Tarlac), Gilbert Remulla (Cavite), Roseller Barinaga (Zamboanga del Norte), Clavel Martinez (Cebu), Proceso J. Alcala (Quezon), and Arthur Pingoy Jr. (South Cotabato).
"This is a clearly multi-partisan effort against Cha- Cha, joined in by majority, minority, and independent bloc solons," said Ocampo.
The Bayan Muna president likewise brushed aside suggestions from pro-Arroyo Manila Mayor Lito Atienza that barangay assemblies be made the venue for Cha- Cha discussions.
"Atienza’s formula is a poor copy of Marcos’ own barangay assemblies that were used to show fake public support for the 1973 Constitution. With many local government officials still rabidly loyal to Arroyo, it will be easy to guess the probable results of these assemblies Atienza wants to stage," Ocampo said. (Monica T. Macariola)
