League of Cities supports amending Constitution

The national chairperson of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) today said that the organization of local chief executives is fully supportive of moves to amend the Philippine Constitution by any of the legal and constitutional means available.

In an interview with radio station DZBB, LCP national chairperson Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, also incumbent Bacolod City Mayor, bared the group’s support after the Albay chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines earlier backed Charter change initiatives.

“Matagal nang usapin itong charter change. Simula pa lang noong panahon ni dating President Ramos ay pinag-uusapan na talaga ng pagpalit ng Konstitusyon natin, dahil nakikita natin na maraming restrictive na provisions na nagiging hadlang sa ating pag-unlad,” Benitez said.

“And that’s why gumagawa tayo ng hakbang para mapalitan. Every administration, kung mapapansin nyo, pinag-uusapan ito, so hindi bago ito,” he added.

To express its support, Benitez said that the executive board of the LCP has already passed a resolution stating it strongly favors amending the 1987 Constitution, which has remained in effect for over 36 years without any amendment.

“Ang kagandahan lang nitong administration na ito, sa simula pa lang ay pinag-uusapan na … Pumasa na po ng resolution ng executive board ng League of Cities para suportahan ang pag-amend ng Constitution,” the Bacolod Mayor said.

As to the specifics, Benitez said the LCP has not yet discussed what provisions of the Constitution they will push to change, but added they discussed briefly the mode of Charter Change to pursue.

“Hindi pa talaga pinag-uusapan kung ano ang mga babaguhin sa Saligang Batas. Ang pinag-uusapan pa lang, ang pagkaintindi ko, is the manner of how to change the Constitution … Ang isang pinag-uusapan muna paano natin aamyendahan ang Konstitusyon na sang-ayon sa nagugustuhan ng taumbayan,” he said.

But everything is still up for discussion, he said. What is clear, he added, is that the LCP supports Charter Change.