MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday promised to continue working “tirelessly” to inform the public about the proposal to amend the Constitution that will pave the way for the shift of government to federalism.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made this comment in response to a Pulse Asia’s survey, showing majority of the Filipinos are against Charter change.
“We take note of the recent Pulse Asia survey showing 64% of Filipinos not in favor of amending the Constitution,” Roque said in a press statement.
The survey found strongest opposition at 75 percent in Balance of Luzon followed by Mindanao at 65 percent, the Visayas at 60 percent and the National Capital Region at 54 percent.
The same Pulse Asia survey, however, indicates that only 49 percent of the Filipinos are aware of the proposal to change the 1987 Constitution.
“This implies there is still a lot of work to be done by the government in informing, educating and reaching out to our countrymen regarding constitutional reforms,” Roque said.
According to Pulse Asia’s March 2018 survey, the public support to amend the Constitution dropped by 23 percent from 37 percent record in July 2016.
“The Duterte administration is thus working tirelessly in promoting to the public the workings of a federal set-up, a campaign promise of the President to bring government closer to the people,” he added.
In line with his campaign promise, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed Executive Order No. 10, creating a 25-man consultative committee (ConCom) tasked to study, conduct consultations, review and proposed amendments of the Constitution.
The panel is headed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and has so far finished major proposals including prohibiting anti-dynasty up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. (PNA)
