DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — Thousands of representatives from various sectors in Negros Oriental are expected to join a rally Monday afternoon in the capital, Dumaguete City, to show their support and push for a federal form of government.
The rally at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center is one of the highlights of the 1st Regional Consultation on the proposed draft constitution replacing the current 1987 Constitution, which will pave the way for federalism in the country.
The activities in Negros Oriental is the first of a series of regional consultations across the country with the Consultative Committee of the Constitutional Commission (ConCom), to review the 1987 Constitution and see which of its provisions are no longer appropriate, and which ones need to be improved or enhanced.
On Sunday afternoon, members of the ConCom met with the Dumaguete media in a press conference to discuss in a nutshell the proposed federal constitution, which shall be presented to a larger multi-sectoral audience on Monday, June 18, at the Negros Oriental Convention Center.
The Concom members are calling on the public to keep an open mind, and read and study the proposed federal constitution thoroughly that is being pushed to replace the existing one, saying the new draft constitution is for the people.
At 8 a.m. Monday, some 500 participants from various sectors such as the academe, women, church, business, farmers and fisherfolk, non-government organizations and the likes, as well as officials and representatives from government agencies and local government units are expected in the regional consultation.
They are expected to air their views on the proposed shift to a federal government as well as share their thoughts and raise their concerns on the draft proposal for a federal constitution.
Another activity at 9 a.m. will involve a small-group town hall meeting with about 100 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), representing the poor and marginalized, to get their sentiments as well do some consults with them.
In the afternoon, two activities will highlight the 1st Regional Consultation, namely, another media briefing at 2 p.m. with ConCom members and a Convention Rally on Federalism at the Sports Center at 3 p.m.
The Concom was created under Executive Order No. 10 to review the 1987 Constitution to as a basis for the formulation of a draft proposed federal constitution.
Conrado Generoso, Senior Technical and Media Officer of the ConCom, during the media briefing disclosed that the draft constitution is “practically 98 (to) 99 percent complete as of today.
According to him, federalism “simply means giving power to the people and power to the regions.”
Many might be asking why the consultations are being done only now, four months after the ConCom was established, but he explained that it was “intentionally done” so that there would be a concept or “architectural design” that can be presented to the people during the consultations.
“Kaysa pupunta tayo sa tao, wala tayong dala, wala tayong pag-uusapan (Rather than us going to the people without nothing to present and so there is nothing to discuss),” he said.
With the draft constitution being presented to the people, they can now provide inputs and suggestions on its provisions and other salient features which shall be explained during the consultations, he added.
The Presidential Management Staff, the Office of Regional Concerns, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (to include the Philippine Information Agency, the Philippine News Agency, PTV 4 and Radyo Pilipinas), are actively involved in the series of regional consultations, according to Generoso.
The ConCom was created through Executive Order No. 10, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed last Dec. 7, 2016 but the body, headed by former Chief Justice Renato Puno, convened only on Feb. 19, 2018, to start drafting the new constitution, Generoso said.
Among the topics that will be included in Monday’s discussions is the future of the twin provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, which formerly comprised the Negros Island Region or Region 18 but whose existence was short-lived after President Duterte abolished it due to lack of funds.
Present during the press conference on Sunday evening were Consultative Committee members Rex Robles, lawyer Ferdinand Bocobo, Professor Eddih Alih, Professor Edmund Tayao, and Secretary Adelino Sitoy of the Presidential Legislative Office (PLLO).
Sitoy stressed that while President Rodrigo R. Duterte created the ConCom, he is not taking part in its activities.
In fact, even Sitoy is just an “observer” and does not have any involvement at all in the ConCom.
DILG Assistant Sec. Marjorie Jalosjos, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Constitutional Committee Commissioners Edmund S. Tayao and Arthur Aguilar, Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor, Negros Occidental District 3 Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, and DILG Region 7 Director Atty. Rene Burdeos are among those expected to attend the consultations, said the Philippine Information Agency here.
Multi-sectoral leaders, who are expected, include Javellane Masunog, president of the Masunog Farmers’ Association, Manuelita Battung, District Coordinator of the Kilusang Pagbabagyo Youth, and the chairman of the Indigenous People’s Tribal Chiefs Ernesto Clark, among others.
Everyone is encouraged to join the rally to support the constitutional reform promoting a federal form of government that Duterte started advocating for several years ago. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
