Congress to push Cha-cha in 2014

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Congress is likely to carry out Charter change in 2014, a lawmaker said yesterday.

In a forum held here by the Capampangans in Media Inc. (CAMI), Pampanga first district Rep. Joseller Guiao said he thinks Congress will support Charter change “although there is yet no talk on the mode for it.”

Guiao also noted that earlier, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. already “declared he would go for Charter change.”

“I am in favor of it, although it will seem to concentrate only on economic provisions such as (foreign) ownership of lands, corporations and others,” Guiao said.

“But I think many will go for con-ass (constitutional assembly) because it’s the fastest and cheapest way, although this will take away from legislative work in Congress,” he added.

However, Guiao admitted that the lack of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or congressional pork barrel fund, has affected the constituents of congressmen.

“Ninety-nine percent of people who go to district offices of congressmen are seeking personal help, and congressmen normally get the funds needed to address these from their PDAF,” he said.

Without PDAF, only the salaries of congressmen or the budget for their districts serve as a limited alternative.

“Only the rich who can afford to give away their wealth to their constituents can afford to respond to the needs of their constituents who go to their district offices for their needs,” he noted.

“If we (congressmen) can’t respond to cries for help of the people because we can’t afford it, we might as well close our district offices,” he added.

Guiao also noted that it is difficult to explain to the people why there is no more PDAF.