The CDI Executive Committee, which convened recently in Spain, unanimously adopted a resolution "supporting the government of the Republic of the Philippines in its efforts to achieve constitutional reform."

The unprecedented resolution from one of the world’s most respected and influential political coalitions comes amid continuing public debate on proposed Charter amendments shifting the Philippines to a parliamentary government.

The House of Representatives had already agreed to introduce the amendments through a Constitutional Convention, the mode most favored by the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant bishops, big businessmen, and the Senate as the nation ponders changes to modernize its political system and economic policies and bring the Philippines to the status of Southeast Asia’s economic tigers.

The CDI resolution was one of several vital resolutions passed by the highest policy-making body of CDI, which has ruling parties and coalitions in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Speaker Jose de Venecia, president of the CDI Asia-Pacific launched in Manila in January this year, received a copy of the resolution in which the CDI leaders cited the Philippine government’s efforts to "bring about greater political stability and hasten economic development by shifting its system of government from the decades-old bicameral presidential to the unicameral parliamentary system."

The resolution represents a significant statement and moral support for Charter reform in the Philippines from one of the most influential political coalitions that have dominated European politics with Christian ideals and thinking.

De Venecia said he was encouraged by the resolution’s major premise that countries in Europe and Asia have attained economic development under the parliamentary system of government with a unicameral parliament.

"We have argued time and again that the parliamentary system has been responsible for the economic success and political stability of the successful nations of Europe and mostly of Asia," De Venecia said.

The CDI Executive Committee said in its resolution that the parliamentary system "… eradicates gridlock and destructive politics and allows the rule of majority parties or coalitions based on a program of government."

The CDI leaders stressed that the process of amending a nation’s Constitution is normal in a functioning democracy.

The CDI resolution in full follows:

"Whereas, we live in an international community where progress and development have become attainable and achievable when countries work towards closer socioeconomic, political and cultural cooperation;

"Whereas, governments of different nations—and of peoples and nationalities of different political persuasions—already have seen the need to encourage and support greater interaction between national economies and peoples;

"Whereas, countries across Europe, and most of Asia and Latin America, have long proved through experience that having a responsive and stable Constitution is needed to further enhance a country’s political, economic and social stability’

"Whereas, these countries have mostly attained economic development under the parliamentary system of government with a unicameral parliament—which eradicates gridlock and destructive politics and allows the rule of majority parties or coalitions based on a program of government;

"Whereas, the process of initiating, strengthening and institutionalizing reforms in a nation’s Constitution is a normal process;

Whereas, the efforts of the Centrist Democratic Government of the Philippines in seeking and institutionalizing Constitutional reform reflects the firm commitment of the Republic of the Philippines to reform its Constitution in order to bring about greater political stability and hasten economic development by shifting its system of government from the decades-old bicameral presidential to the unicameral parliamentary government;

RESOLVED by the Centrist Democrats International (CDI) Executive Committee, which represents 110 political parties worldwide, to adopt this Resolution of support and submit a copy of this Resolution to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines."