Do not participate in the nationally coordinated barangay assemblies for Charter change this weekend, the Promotion of Church People's Response-Negros urged the people yesterday.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia had said that the people's initiative for Cha-cha would be launched nationwide this Saturday, when he was in Bacolod Monday.

To get a people's initiative off the ground, the signatures of 12 percent, or 4.8 million, of Filipino voters, with not less than 3 percent in any congressional district throughout the Philippines is needed, he said.

Local Government Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta told the DAILY STAR that barangay assemblies are set Saturday to discuss the people's concerns as provided in the Local Government Code.

There are no specific instructions to tackle Charter change, but it can be tackled if barangay officials feel it is a concern of their community, she said.

COMELEC officials in Negros Occidental yesterday said the DILG has asked them for the lists of voters in apparent preparation for the campaign for signatures needed for the Cha-cha people's initiative.

PCPR Negros secretary general Fr. Romeo Tagud said the people should be vigilant and oppose any ploy to continue to perpetuate President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in power.

With Charter change through a people's initiative the planned impeachment of Arroyo by the opposition will be preempted, there will be no national election and she will stay in power inspite of questions on the legitimacy of her presidency, he said.

Yesterday a form for a Cha-cha signature campaign was furnished Aksyon Radyo in Bacolod.

The question on the form was: "Do you approve the amendment to Articles VI and VII of the 1987 Constitution changing the form of government from the present bicameral-presidential to unicameral-parliamentary system of government in order to achieve greater efficiency, simplicity and economy in government, and providing an article XVIII as transitory provisions for the orderly shift from one system to the other?"

Above the portion for the people's signature is this sentence: "I hereby approve the proposed amendment to the 1987 Constitution. My signature herein which shall form part of the petition for initiative to amend the Constitution signifies my support of the filing thereof."

A proposed petition calling for a plebiscite for Charter change to be filed before the Commission on Elections states that the shift in the form of government "will effect a more efficient, more economical and more responsive government."

"The shift from the bicameral to a unicameral legislature will do-away with the time-consuming duplication of legislative functions and strengthen responsibility and accountability in legislative work in government," it added.

Felipe Levy Gelle, Bayan Negros secretary general, said the Arroyo' administration's push for charter change will be opposed by the people, De Venecia is dreaming when he says the change will happen by July.*CPG

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