Governors all over the country have pledged to unite in supporting people’s initiative as the best method to amend the Constitution.

The provincial executives, led by Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, president of the League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP), vowed to secure the constitutional requirement of "three percent of the total registered voters of a legislative district" to initiate the holding of a plebiscite on Charter change in middle of this year.

Meeting twice in one week in Manila, 45 of the 79 governors have assured of an overwhelming list-up in their respective provinces with help of their local supporters, including sectoral groups, to surpass the 12 percent constitutional requirement nationwide.

But Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone was quick to point out that actually, there are at least 75 of the 79 governors who are pro-Charter Change (Cha-cha) and who have already made known their position to back the signature drive and fast-track the shift in the form of government.

"Sa amin, lahat ng local officials, the mayors primarily, ay matagal nang naghanda for the signature campaign. Plantsado na," said Evardone, referring to the official stand of the LPP and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) favoring the change from a bicameral to a unicameral parliamentary government.

Bataan Gov. Enrique "Tet" Garcia said he sees no stumbling block in getting the required number of signatures as the people are aware of what Chacha will bring to the country.

"They want an end to all these political bickerings because they know the people are the ones suffering. With Cha-cha, there is hope for a new beginning," Garcia said.

Agusan del Norte Gov. Edward "Bong" Plaza said his leadership is at stake in the signature campaign, adding that all provincial officials and their constituents are behind him.

"Being a vocal supporter of Cha-cha, my constituency will overwhelmingly sign up to become active partners in shaping up a new future for the country. Yes na yes kami," Plaza said.

Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles, Jr. assured that his people would not think twice about signing up. "They are fed up with the prevailing politics under the bicameral system where insignificant legislation favoring the grassroots is produced by Congress," Verceles said, adding that the people will support the shift to a parliamentary system because it will do away with the exasperating gridlocks.

Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong said the whole country will be surprised at the positive reaction of the people towards the signature campaign. "The people will follow their local leaders, and I assure you that in Sulu, the vote will be really overwhelmingly in favor of a people’s initiative," Loong said.

Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias, whose province was recently hit by a calamity, said: "We are going all-out for the people’s initiative. The results of the signature campaign in our province will tell that people are supporting constitutional reforms."

Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III said the people’s initiative has snowballed because opinions for or against it have been articulated.

"Sa amin, matagal nang nakapagisip ang mga tao na kailangang ayusin ang Konstitusyon upang umagapay sa global developments ang bansa. Napag-iiwanan na tayo," said Joson, who is in favor of the unicameral parliamentary system patterned after the French model.

Raising their thumbs up and proclaiming success for the signature campaign were Governor Luis Ray Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Mark Lapid (Pampanga), Pedro Romualdo (Camiguin), Arnan Panaligan (Mindoro Oriental), Roger Espina (Biliran), Carmencita Reyes (Marinduque);

Raul Lee (Sorsogon), Armand Sanchez (Batangas), Vicente Magsaysay (Zambales), Victor Ortega (La Union), Josie dela Cruz (Bulacan), Melchor Borromeo (Benguet), Gelacio Gementiza (Davao Del Norte), Rolando Yebes (Zamboanga del Norte), Loreto Leo Ocampos (Misamis Occidental);

Benjamin Bautista (Davao del Sur). Rene Miguel Dominguez (Sarangani), Jericho Petilla (Leyte), Sally Perez (Antique), Carlito Marquez (Aklan), Robert Lyndon Barbers (Surigao del Norte), Vicente Pimental (Surigao del Sur), Joel Reyes (Palawan), Emmanuel Pinol (North Cotabato) and Eripe John Amante (Agusan del Sur).

The governors’ concerted action is complemented by the united stand of the League of Cities of the Philippines and the League of Minicipalitics, plus the other leagues composed of vice-governors, board members, vice-mayors, councilors, lady legislators, barangay chairmen and kagawad.