Give ChaCha a chance: Mayor Javi

Stressing that it would still be the people to decide, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, who chairs the Association of Chief Executives of Negros Occidental, said that the Charter Change should be given a chance.

“Let’s give people the chance to say what they want of the Charter Change,” Benitez said, as the signature campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution, through People’s Initiative, is now ongoing in the different towns and cities of Negros Occidental.

He added, “We should have debates about the ChaCha now. We should be talking to the Senate, congressmen, local leaders, especially the people, about what we want to happen for our country”.

Confirming that 15 mayors in the province are supporting the Charter Change, Benitez said the People’s Initiative is really just the opening of conversation about ChaCha.

“We should have to talk about it. We should not shoot down an idea right away. We should give it a chance. What does it mean. What provisions of the Constitution that we have to improve, economic or political provisions”, he added.

Asked on the offering of government programs for people, who will sign the People’s Initiative to amend the Constitution, Benitez said it is not happening in Victorias.

The campaign to withdraw signatures from supporting the move to amend the 1987 Constitution has been also launched during the weekend, the local church leaders condemned the alleged practices in gathering signatures in the province, by using social assistance as leverage, which they described as morally reprehensible.

While we can have the best leaders and experts, but if the system is not allowing for more development for our country, province or city, then we have to revisit it, said Benitez who is apparently referring to the 1987 Constitution.

“I think we should give it a chance. At the end of the day, it is the people who will decide”, he added.* (Eugene Y. Adiong)