Hasty shift to federal government through Con-ass to exclude poor from reforms

March 19, 2009

CODE-NGO

Hasty Shift to Federal Government Through Con-ass to Exclude Poor from Reforms

Even as 16 senators signed a resolution to open the debate for the federalism proposal through a Constituent assembly (Con-ass), the Coalition for a Citizens’ Constitution (C4CC) maintains its stand that the exit of President Gloria Arroyo from office is the ideal period for the shift to a federal government.

“C4CC expressed fears that a hasty shift to a federal form of government at this time, and if undertaken in total disregard for social justice and development concerns, will only strengthen the paralyzing influence of traditional politics over economic reforms, particularly the agrarian reform program in the rural areas,” said C4CC National Coordinator Raul Socrates Banzuela.

For his part, Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) Executive Director Sixto Donato C. Macasaet said, “While many of us are pushing for Charter change towards the creation of a federal system, we cannot allow this goal to undermine a more democratic, participatory and deliberative process in changing the Constitution.”

Also a C4CC co-convenor, Macasaet stressed that the people need to understand better the serious ramifications of the shift to a federal system. “It is in our opinion that the advocacy for a federal system would be best served under a Constitutional Convention, and not under a Constituent Assembly,” he said.

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