House Speaker Jose de Venecia will take up moves toward Charter Change with mayors and barangay captains of Negros Occidental at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City Monday afternoon, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco said yesterday.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had planned to hold a pro Cha-cha rally at the Paglaum Sports Stadium in Bacolod early this month but cancelled her visit.

The Lakas CMD in January approved the proposed shift to a parliamentary government and a unicameral parliament.

De Venecia's other proposed core amendments are the lifting of term limits for elective officials, elections once every five years, banning of turncoatism to strengthen the party system, the creation of autonomous regions as an initial step towards a shift to the Federal system, and the easing of economic restrictions to allow foreign investments to develop the national economy.

During his visit De Venecia will also attend the Charter Day celebration of Victorias City, and meet with Lakas CMD leaders and Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Zayco said.

Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday reiterated that he is for Charter Change as long as the people are consulted on how they want the revisions to be undertaken.

Zayco is reportedly set to be named deputy regional director for the Lakas CMD in Western Visayas.

MEDIA CENSORSHIP

Meanwhile, Marañon said he is opposed to any moves toward media censorship.

"Media should not be censored, otherwise how can it be free? But media practitioners must be responsible," he said.*CPG

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