Vice President Noli de Castro breaks ground in Murcia as Pag-IBIG Fund president Romero Quimbo, Gawad Kalinga president Tony Meloto and Mayor Esteban Coscolluela (l-r) look on

MURCIA, Negros Occidental -- Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday said he is for Charter Change through a Constitutional Convention, but will leave it up to the public to decide if they want it done through a people's initiative or not.

"If the people want it, what can we do? Government officials just follow what the people want, not what we want, but what is best for the majority," he said.

Barangay assemblies throughout the country today initiated by the Department of Interior and Local Government are reportedly set to be used by pro-Arroyo officials to launch the campaign for Charter Change through a people's initiative.

Panay officials
support signature drive
BY NESTOR BURGOS JR.

ILOILO CITY - Local executives in Panay Island are supporting the signature campaign to amend the Constitution to be held in today's barangay assemblies.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the League of Cities of the Philippines of which he is president is at the forefront of the campaign. "We fully support the (people's initiative) and we are encouraging all officials to do the same," Treñas said in a telephone interview. He said at least 80 percent of the 117-member LCP are backing the move.

Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez said Aklan officials are also supporting the moves to amend the Constitution. He said the charter changes will "hasten economic development."

'Takeover of
Bredco still likely'
BY CARLA GOMEZ

It is not yet the end for the proposed takeover ordinance of the Bacolod Port, Bacolod Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said yesterday.

Sayson said the proposed ordinance providing the basic policies, guidelines and procedures for the takeover by the city of the unfinished reclamation project and port, as well as, port operation at the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City can still be reintroduced to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The proposed ordinance was killed on first reading Thursday as six councilors voted against it and six voted in favor. The ordinance needed eight votes to be passed on first reading.