NANCY: PUBLIC SHOULD BE FULLY INFORMED ON CHACHA

Senator Nancy Binay underscored the need for an intensive public consultation and information campaign to help people fully understand the pros and cons of charter change.

"Personally, magandang pag-usapan pero para sa akin mahabang proseso. Huwag nating madaliin. Dapat talaga himayin," Binay said.

"Kung papalitan natin iyong Konstitusyon, ano yung dapat palitan. Kailangan ba magchange tayo ng form of goverment or may certain provisions lang doon na i-aammend?" she added.

Binay said she got an assurance from the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments that they would be conducting public consultations with different sectors on charter change.

"In fact iyon na iyong commitment ni chairman, ni Senator Kiko, na iikot siya para tanungin ang ating mga kababayan," she said.

Earlier, Binay urged lawmakers to first look at how to properly implement the Local Government Code before considering amending the constitution and shifting to a federal form of government.

She said issues like decentralization and strengthening local autonomy are better addressed by strictly implementing the Local Government Code.

"Mas ako ang panawagan ko i-implement muna natin ang Local Government Code kasi iyon ang lumabas sa hearing kahapon na kumbaga common complaint ay hindi inimplement fully ang Local Government Code," Binay said.

"Actually, more than amending, implementing e. Yun yung nakakalungkot sa atin, kasi yung parang mga ginagawang batas suggestion. Hindi siya iniimplement by not funding it, so di ba, andyan yung batas pero walang pondo, so wala lang, suggestion lang yung batas," she added.

Binay said that while the Local Government Code devolved powers to local governments, some of its key features remain unimplemented.

"Siguro baka kailangan magdownload pati yung funding ibigay na natin sa LGU. And then tingnan natin by empowering them by funding them kung makakapagdeliver sila. Siguro kung magkaroon ng failure, saka natin tignan baka it's high time to make changes," Binay said.