DAVAO CITY (August 25) — President Rodrigo Duterte wants to hear the pulse and impression of the people about the proposed shift to a federal form of government.
Presidential Spokespoerson Harry Roque in a press briefing Thursday said “He [PRRD] is fully committed to federalism, but as I said, he welcomes all feedbacks from everyone and we want to make sure of course that federalism will improve our lives. And that’s the primordial importance,”
The Consultative Committee (ConCom) has earlier submitted the draft of the Federal Constitution.
Roque claimed the President “Is fully satisfied and has fully endorsed the work product of the ConCom, and he just wants to have a more reasoned and intelligent discussion on the proposal.”
He stressed, “The Federal Constitution submitted by the 22-member Consultative Committee to review the 1987 Constitution is a very good draft. The government, however, and the ConCom are considering the comments of all stakeholders and are open to improving the draft federal charter.”
The Palace spokesperson further said that the President is willing to consider the comments of the people and improve the draft Constitution accordingly before officially transmitting a final version to Congress.
“[I]t’s very important that we have open, frank, candid, and reasoned discussion on the proposed revisions considering the importance of the Constitution as the fundamental law of the land,” he added.
The doors are now open for the public to course through their remarks, suggestions, or concerns regarding the proposal to the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson (OPS), the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), or the Office of the President (OP).
They may send their queries either in writing, through electronic mail, or by personally submitting them to the concerned government offices, Roque cited.
According to Roque, the initiative would coincide with the ongoing road shows and dissemination activities being conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) throughout the country.-PNA
