Mindanao leaders to deliver signatures for people’s initiative

Local government leaders in Mindanao vowed yesterday to produce twice as many target signatures to prove their unity and capability of supporting moves to amend the 1987 Constitution through the people’s initiative mode.

Local officials led by North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, president of the confederation of Mindanao governors, city mayors and municipal mayors, said their initiative will show a peaceful and orderly method of securing change in the government through the direct participation of the people.

Piñol said Mindanao leaders are in collective agreement that the people’s initiative mode provided under the Constitution is a preferred alternative since it would come from the people themselves.

"Mindanaoans are in favor of changing the form of government from presidential bicameral to a unicameral parliament," Piñol said.

"The prolonged political crisis has wrought more economic damage to Mindanao because it is geographically too far out from the center. The time has come for Filipinos to recognize that Mindanao also has a say in the affairs of government," he said.

Piñol said there was an overwhelming agreement among local leaders in Mindanao to campaign vigorously in obtaining the biggest number of signatures from registered voters in the region.

Piñol pointed out that Mindanao has 26 provinces, 27 cities and 359 municipalities with 12 million registered voters.

"The people’s initiative empowers Mindanaoans with the democratic right to amend the 1987 Constitution in the most peaceful manner," he said.

Piñol said the local leaders are getting frustrated over the endless bickering between congressmen and senators over issues that leave the country economically stagnant.

Local government chiefs blame the impasse between the two legislative chambers in Congress as the primary reason for the country’s lagging behind regional neighbors in economic and political stability.

Piñol said the local government chiefs are supporting the people’s initiative to push for change since other initiatives to amend the Constitution are likely to be thumbed down by the Senate.

"The people of Mindanao are ready to show their unity in charting the future of our country. They want change and they want their voices heard in the same way as those in Luzon, Metro Manila and the Visayas," Piñol declared.

Sulu Gov. Ben Loong, for his part, said that over the years, Mindanao has relied on legislation from Congress to improve and uplift the economic conditions of the island province.

"Unfortunately, the eternal gridlock between the two chambers in Congress has resulted in delaying the enactment of appropriate economic and tax reform measures that would have bailed Mindanao out of its woeful condition," he said.

Loong cited the province of Sulu as "a concrete example of the political stalemate" between lawmakers in Congress.

Sarangani Gov. Rene Miguel Dominguez said Mindanao has always been the last in line in terms of development priorities.

"The people of Mindanao are now moving to pursue the people’s initiative because they realize that the present Constitution is not responsive to the needs of all the people, especially to Mindanao," Dominguez said.

There is no voice stronger than the voice of the people to make changes in a Constitution that has failed miserably in addressing the economic and political issues holding back the nation, Dominguez added.

He said amendments to the Constitution will not only correct its structural flaws but will also enable the country to address the political and economic developments in the new world order.

Piñol also stressed the Filipino people must see change taken place on a higher positive plane, instead of allowing themselves to be swayed by the political maneuverings of vested groups using propaganda tactics.

"The maturity of the Filipino people will be measured by this historic event, whether the felt need to amend the Constitution is really in the hands of the people or not," the Cotabato governor said.

Agusan del Sur Gov. Edward Plaza, for his part, noted the people’s initiative move will be challenged anew by those who have vested political designs.

"These are all meant to benefit the people. We want Mindanaoans to finally receive the blessings that have long been delayed. This cannot be postponed anymore," Plaza explained.