GMA wishes for political reforms through Cha-cha

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Staying focused on her administration’s agenda, President Arroyo shared her New Year’s wish for the country in 2006, and not surprisingly, it’s "major structural political reform" through Charter change.

As for her own personal resolution, Mrs. Arroyo, as always, had this hope for 2006: to learn "to control my temper."

Earlier, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said the majority coalition led by the Lakas-CMD had agreed to support the seven amendments to the Charter proposed by the presidential constitutional commission (con-com), including a controversial proposal to extend the terms of incumbent elected officials.

However, De Venecia said the con-com proposal to scrap the 2007 mid-term elections was still open to debate.

Told of the President’s 2006 wish, De Venecia smiled in agreement as he was seated beside her. The Speaker is a strong supporter of changing the Charter to shift the country’s political system to a parliamentary-federal system.

Mrs. Arroyo noted that everyone makes New Year’s resolutions at the end of each year. But even if our resolutions are not followed through to the letter, "We should not stop making resolutions."

"We are not perfect. We’re just human," she said, adding that one should make a best effort to achieve his or her goals.

It was a friendlier President Arroyo who approached the local media yesterday during her visit here to distribute rice, books and health cards to students. Her sometimes prickly relations with the press were nowhere in sight.

After having her lunch with local officials led by De Venecia, Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castañeda and Binmaley Mayor Simplicio Rosario, Mrs. Arroyo stood up and joined the media at one table and had an informal "chat" with them.

Though she did request "no tape recorders and no microphones for television cameras," she did allow the media to take down notes while talking to them.

The President was mobbed by townspeople here, including students, their parents and teachers at the Pangasinan National High School where she also inspected the historic Gabaldon Building built in 1908 and scheduled for restoration.

After her visit here, she also went to the grotto of the Our Lady of Rosales in Rosales town, where she reportedly goes to pray every first Saturday of the month.