More must be done to expose ‘ill effects’ of Cha-cha, says ACT party-list

FILE PHOTO: ACT Party-list Rep. France Castro during the weekly press briefing at the House of Representatives on Thursday, November 21, 2019. INQUIRER.net / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines —ACT Party-list Representative France Castro said on Tuesday that more efforts are needed to reveal the alleged harmful effects of changing the 1987 Constitution.

She made the comment after the recent Pulse Asia survey on Cha-cha revealed a rise in people supporting changes to the decades-old constitution.

According to the audit conducted from March 15-19, 41 percent of 1,200 adult respondents favor revising the Charter – “more pronounced” than the 31 percent recorded in the September 2022 Cha-cha survey.

Still, however, more Filipinos are still opposed to amending the 1987 Constitution at 45 percent.

READ: More Filipinos still oppose Charter change, but support for it grew – Pulse Asia

“The latest Pulse Asia survey shows that most Filipinos are still against Charter change but we must give an extra effort in exposing the ill effects of this move both economically and politically so that more Filipinos would see cha-cha for what it is. A ploy for politicians to have longer-term limits and for foreigners to have more control in our country,” Castro said in a statement.

Castro and the progressive Makabayan group in Congress consistently oppose Cha-cha, citing high costs and the country’s struggling economy, among other reasons.

READ: Makabayan bloc: Absurd to push for Cha-cha amid economic crisis

The Makabayan group wanted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration to focus on essential issues that would solve economic problems and help the people.

“Malinaw na divisive issue talaga ang Charter change at kapag itinulak pa ito ay lalo lang titindi ang polarisasyon ng mga Pilipino, dahil ang gusto ng karamihan ay tumutok na ang Marcos admin sa mga kagyat na problema ng bansa tulad ng sa presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo pati pagtaas ng sahod at di na ang cha-cha, pero ang iba naman ay sunod lang sa gusto ng administrasyon,” said Castro.

(Clearly Charter change is a divisive issue and if it is pushed, it will further polarize Filipinos because most people want the Marcos admin to tackle urgent matters like the rising costs of goods and services, as well as wage increases, not Cha-cha, but the others follow what the administration wants.)

RELATED STORIES

Charter change cost to hit P15 billion

Zubiri: Senate divided on Cha-cha; debates would be a waste of time, funding

kga/abc