Joe deV to push Cha-Cha

Speaker Jose de Venecia will launch on Monday the initial salvo for Charter Change in Negros Occidental.

But the problem is that most of these changes in the basic Charter remain just motherhood statements. What is important is that details must be discussed as the starting point of a meaningful dialog with the people.

Among the core amendments are the proposed lifting of term limits for elective officials, a highly controversial proposal that may divide the people into two groups - those opting for the term limits as well as the family limit. In short, there are many who would ban the entry into the electoral process of the immediate or near-relatives of elective official.

That's the only way to open up elective government offices to the middle classes. Right now, the country has found itself entertained by the spectacle of the wives, sons and daughters of elective officials engaging with their seniors or incumbents in a rigodon as to who will be the next candidate. That, to a certain extent, perpetuates family dynasties.

Another contentious point - the creation of autonomous regions as an initial step towards a shift to the Federal System. But that one is something that has roused a lot of questions. Who will determine which autonomous region can become a federal government?

The Save Our Language Through Federalism (SOLFED) had asked for the method of granting regional governments federal status. That is - it should not be up to Congress or Parliament to do it. There must be a provision which outlines the basis for federalization. Otherwise, it will take an interminable period for federalism to take roots when left to the decision by Parliament. In short, that will be another tiring effort to enable localities to become federal.

Another thing is the definition of autonomy for regional governments. And, the more important thing, is something that could by now address the problem of income from government revenues. An automatic tax retention scheme is the more immediate and acceptable alternative. Without that, autonomy will remain a nebulous catch-word.

What is important is that Speaker De Venecia outline his plan on how to proceed with the consultations on Charter Change. Already, there are a lot of questions raised by various sectors that Congress is just attempting to ram Cha-Cha through.

Anyway, welcome to Joe deV. It's been a long time that he has not come around. But his advent here may strengthen the Lakas-CMD if the proposed naming of Vice Governor Isidro Zayco as deputy regional director for Western Visayas pushes through.

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The Bacolod SP deserves congratulations for approving the resolution to wait for the executive-legislative caucus before addressing the issue of the recommended takeover of the Bacolod port from BREDCO.

This move, to a certain extent, provides a cooling off period for the city negotiators and the BREDCO panel before both sides adopt hardline positions wherein they could no longer retreat. As of now, the business community and other well-meaning citizens of the city have asked the city to adopt caution in its decision. In short, explore possible win-win solution.

I think the proposal by former Councilor Alfred Jalbuena Jr. for BREDCO to pay for P2 million to P3 million per annum may be acceptable from the P800,000 five years ago.

The P17.5 million posted by the city is a bit exorbitant. As pointed out by James Chua, a 2,000 percent increase may be too much. Especially if, as contended by Sammy Palanca, BREDCO president, it was computed on the basis of gross income.

Somehow, I think both sides can look at it also in terms of the loans which BREDCO has to repay, its investments, and its cost of operations of the port and its facilities.

Somehow, both sides must be able to look at the problem from the vantage point of the city.

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The MBCCI recently came out with a realistic appraisal of what happened to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform in Negros Occidental. In short, it summed up that despite the thousands of hectare turned over to ARBs, these areas had simply fallen into disrepute because the government has not provided the ARBs the support mechanism for them to be able to make their lands productive.

In short, as a temporary solution, there should be a cessation of the land distribution. This will allow the government to assess the situation before resuming land distribution.*

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