President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday remained unfazed despite the opposition's campaign to derail Charter change as she urged local government officials to continue to join her in the push towards a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

So much can be done for the country but "the rough and tumble of partisan politics have strewn our path with obstacles," the President told about 1,500 participants of the national conference of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines in Bacolod City.

"We can act to clear the way for fundamental change founded on the deep-seated aspirations of the people," she said.

"Our political system is out of touch and leaving us behind the rest of Asia and the world whose parliamentary systems have done wonders to speed up their development," she said.

The world around us is full of countries with parliamentary systems that make them move faster on what they need for development, let us join these developing and modernizing countries, she said.

The president thanked the vice mayors for their commitment to work at informing the people and facilitating discussion on Charter change, which she said will bring the Philippines to the 21st century. Arroyo also thanked the local government officials who, she said, continue to be there for her in many aspects of governance.

"I thank you because you believe and you have expressed that we must continue to ignore the noisy political flak being fired at the ship of state and you keep our sights on the prize of a better future," she said.

The vice mayors and the other local government officials are our vanguards against political and economic instability, especially amid the upward spiral of world prices, she said.

Various groups in Bacolod City joined an anti-Charter change caravan yesterday afternoon to convey the message to Arroyo that Negrenses strongly oppose her version of charter change, Bayan-Negros secretary general Felipe Gelle Jr. said yesterday.

"Arroyo's so-called Cha-Cha train is, in reality, dilapidated. It is torn down by Arroyo's illegitimacy, corruption cases and greed for power. It will not take the nation to progress but to further degradation," he said.

Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor called protest efforts futile. It is better if they present alternatives instead of being anti cha-cha, he said.

Even if charter change is slowed down or stopped, we have already gained victory in the sense that people are more aware of it now, he said.

We all understand that there is a problem in our political system and we have to change that, he said.

The president yesterday was accompanied by Commissioners Romela Bengzon and Raul Lambino who spoke of the need for Charter Change to ensure economic liberalization and swifter action against poverty.*CPG

back to top