Thursday, December 14, 2006

New People's Initiative (for Charter Change)

I, Dante Montano Tagle of Makati, an ordinary Filipino citizen believe that our nation should shift to at least a unicameral Congress, if not a unicameral parliament. I believe that our current political system, the bicameral system, is too slow moving, rigid, prone to political "gridlocks" to adapt to the challenges of today's constantly changing world. For our nation to be more economically competitive; I believe that our government needs to be more responsive, adaptive, efficient, swift to exploit opportunities and fast enough to solve problems. Furthermore, we need a system that has more accountability; and this I believe we could achieve under a unicameral Congress/Parliament.

I was dismayed with the failure of the People's Initiative of Sigaw ng Bayan; the "retreat" of the Constituent Assembly; I am now disgusted in seeing the Philippine Senate dragging its feet on Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) which many Senators and anti Charter Change groups supported before.

I have started this initiative to begin a "New People's Initiative" in support of a shift to a unicameral Congress/Parliament. The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, in its decision on Sigaw ng Bayan People's Initiative, has ruled that there is sufficient enabling law for people to propose amendment/s to the Philippine constitution. I am exercising this right as a Filipino citizen. As the present Chief Justice Reynato Puno said in his dissenting opinion on the Sigaw ng Bayan People's Initiative: sovereign power resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

I believe many Filipinos share my belief. I urge everyone who dreams of a First World Philippines to join this crusade; many of our people are still suffering from poverty and they need solutions now. Our nation's success would depend on our collective efforts; we have a long way to go and we would be facing stiff opposition. Nevertheless time is on our side; the Philippine Senate has outlived its usefulness; we need a political system that could really move this country forward; a government that is more responsive; more accountable and with a more streamlined decision making process. As one philosopher, Victor Hugo, said: "There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come."

Signed: Dante Montano Tagle
Date: 13 December 2006
Makati, Philippines
http://charterchange.googlepages.com/

11 Comments:

At December 14, 2006 9:33 PM , Blogger joana said...

It's about time; if not long overdue that we have to examine closely and respond to the need for a charter change for the Filipinos to attain and live in a decent, wholesome society. We cannot afford anymore to just sit down and wait; for history has been a witness to the unending failing attempts of hundreds and thousands of concerned, humane filipino leaders as well as citizens; simply because the existing system cannot allow it to happen. Let's all stand up and bind together and make it happen ; for if we dont do it who will? if we don't start now when?

 
At December 15, 2006 1:59 AM , Blogger arlene said...

I dont know much about the law but I think we need some drastic changes on our political system. The rich people and those who are in power are the only one who benifit from the present system and the ordinary people like us are the one's suffering.
Charter change is one means of changing the political system.
Anyway we got nothing much to lose anymore.

 
At December 16, 2006 6:58 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some people would rather lie down under the tree waiting for the fruit to fall off their mouth.

 
At December 18, 2006 2:12 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, try, if it doesn't work, try again...

 
At December 19, 2006 8:08 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Character change NOT Charter Change!

 
At December 20, 2006 11:07 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wala sa sistema ang problema kung hindi sa bulok na pamamalakad ng gobyernong ito!

 
At December 20, 2006 11:09 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

hanggat nandiyan ang ganid na pandak sa malacanyang..maghihirap ang pinoy!

 
At December 21, 2006 1:06 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe after 2010, what's the rush?

 
At December 23, 2006 10:48 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The solution is not Charter Change but an honest, good leader that could bring our country into 1st world status!

 
At December 24, 2006 3:06 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

We need to put God in our hearts...

 
At December 30, 2006 5:17 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes to Cultural Revolution! No to Charter Change!

 

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