Marañon pushes for Charter change

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. this week said he is pushing for Charter change to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution because of its defects.

"We need to amend it because it has so many defects. But the question on whether to amend it now or when depends on our powers-that-be," he said.

Marañon cited that one flaw of the 15-year-old Charter is the lack of provision for electing senators by regions or provinces. As of now, senators are elected at-large, and many provinces have no representation in the Senate, he said.

"Senators must be elected by senatorial districts, like congressmen being elected by congressional districts. That way, each district all over the country will have representation in the Senate," he said.

Presently, the Senate has several senators who come from show business and television, which is very unfortunate, he said.

Meanwhile, Marañon thanked President Benigno Aquino for his many projects in Negros, such as roads and bridges, whose funding came easy.

The Fabrica bridge in Sagay City, costing around P200 million, will be finished in April next year, while work on the 10-kilometer access road to the Bacolod-Silay airport, which has a budget of P404 million, is now going on. - THE FREEMAN