It looks as if the Arroyo administration will get the number of signatures required of Negros Island for a people's initiative on Charter change.

Gov. George Arnaiz yesterday said he is sure that no less than 40 percent of the voting population of Oriental Negros are signing the people's initiative for Charter change, while Gov. Joseph Marañon said initial reports he received show that more than 3 percent of the registered voters in each of Negros Occidental's congressional districts signed to support the move.

The push for a people initiative on Charter change was reported to have been tackled in many barangay assemblies in Negros Island Saturday.

To get a people's initiative off the ground, signatures of 12 percent or 4.8 million of Filipino voters, with not less than 3 percent in any congressional district throughout the Philippines are needed, House Speaker Jose de Venecia said earlier.

When the signatures are verified, a campaign will be conducted, and by June 10 or 15 a plebiscite can be held that will enable a unicameral parliament to replace the country's presidential form of government by July, de Venecia said.

However, those opposed to the move say it cannot be done as there is no enabling law for a people's initiative for Charter change.

Arnaiz, who met with Marañon at the house of transportation magnate Ricardo Yanson in Bacolod City yesterday, said that in Oriental Negros their three congressmen are for a people's initiative for Charter change, along with the provincial government officials and the mayors.

There is no one actively campaigning against the people's initiative for Charter change in Oriental Negros, he said.

I am for Charter change because I feel this country only needs one legislative body with the kind of politicians we have for efficiency and economy, Arnaiz said.

"We should have a parliamentary form of government with a strong president," he said.

The fastest way to change our form of government is through a people's initiative because if you go through a Constituent Assembly the Senate will not support it, while a Constitutional convention will be too long and expensive, Arnaiz said.

However, there were also those who were critical of the Arroyo administration's push for charter change through barangay assemblies Saturday.

Negros Occidental Board Member Francis Gerard Tuvilla said "The barangay assembly which is a venue for listening to the people was instead used to impose the vested interest of the ruling coalition upon the people."

Using barangay assemblies to push a people's initiative was "unpowering instead of empowering" the people. It clearly was not a people's initiative but a shelfish motive, he said.

Provincial director for Negros Occidental, Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, of the Department of Interior and Local Government Saturday said discussion on the people's initiative was not required by the DILG at the barangay assemblies, it was left to the barangays officials and residents to decide.

She said she would only know the people's position on the people's initiative when reports from the field on the conduct of the barangay assemblies are sent to her.

Arturo Parreño, barangay captain of Mandalagan and president of the Bacolod Association of Barangay Captains, said no Cha-cha signature campaign was conducted during the barangay assembly he conducted Saturday.

The people do not know what the people's initiative for Charter change is about, an information campaign needs to be conducted first, he said.

He said he had no forms for the people to sign at the assembly but he heard there were some people going around asking for signatures.

Bacolod Barangay 18 Captain Madeline Diaz said no signature campaign also took place during her barangay assembly as the people do not understand what is to be changed in the Constitution and are wary of the move.

She said DILG Bacolod head Ireneo Asuga attended her assembly and spoke on Cha-cha but she heard residents saying it appeared that what was happening was a government initiative and not a people's initiative.

She also said there were some people going around asking for Cha-cha signatures whom she did not know and she was not informed about it.

Transportation Undersecretary Ricardo Tan said the barangay assemblies would give the people an opportunity to give feedback on their positions on Charter change.

A source said actual signature campaigns in all barangays was not necessary as all that is needed for a people's initiative is 3 percent of all the votes in each district, which is easy to get even without organized barangay efforts.

EB Magalona Mayor Alfonso Gamboa said he heard that attempts were made to get signatures for Cha-cha in barangays Latasan and San Jose in his town but the people were hesitant and afraid to sign because they did not know what it was all about.*CPG

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