Palace: Charter change not a priority

MANILA, Philippines — Charter change or “Cha-cha” is not among the priorities of the government amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Malacañang said Monday following the call of a number of  mayors to amend the Constitution.

According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, “Cha-cha” was never mentioned as a government priority during President Duterte’s speeches.

“Alam niyo po linggo-linggo nakikipag-usap naman po ang Pangulo sa taumbayan at hindi po lumulutang ang Charter Change bilang isang prayoridad,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.

[You know, every week the President talks to the people and Charter Change was never mentioned as a government priority.]

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines is pushing to amend the Constitution to increase local governments’ internal revenue allotment (IRA) and lift restrictions on foreign investments in unspecified industries.

“Tingin ko maiintindihan naman ng mga mayor na bagama’t tama ang kanilang advocacy na palawakin ang IRA ng mga lokal na pamahalaan para mas mabilis din makabigay ng serbisyo sa kanilang mga kababayan, ang totoo po nakatutok po ang Presidente, ang buong gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng IATF dito po sa problema ng COVID-19,” the Palace official said.

[I think the mayors will understand that although their advocacy is right to expand the IRA of local governments so that they can serve their constituents faster, the President is really focused, the whole government through the IATF is focused for the COVID-19 problem.]

“So hindi po prayoridad ang Charter Change,” he added.

[So Charter Change is not a priority.]

The Duterte administration has openly advocated a constitutional overhaul that would shift to a federal form of government.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government even created a task force on federalism in October last year.

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