Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The House of Representatives, dominated by President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 allies, is not giving up on its push for federalism, Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia asserted聽on Monday.
The Cebu 3rd district congresswoman said this in reaction to a survey that showed that 67 percent of Filipinos are against Charter change (Cha-cha) moves and that a majority oppose a shift to federalism.
搁贰础顿:听67% of Filipinos oppose Charter change, says Pulse Asia survey
Asked in a press briefing if the survey results should be a sign to give up on their federalism advocacy, Garcia said: 鈥淥h, certainly not.鈥�
鈥淵ou are very much aware that the President when he was still a candidate had pushed for this shift, this very much part of the platform of the President along with his fight against the drug problem as well as corruption but this too was part of the President鈥檚 platform,鈥� she added.
Garcia also pointed out the apparent 鈥渃ontradiction鈥� between the federalism surveys results of two major pollsters, Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS).
An SWS first quarter survey earlier showed that the majority of Filipino adults remain unaware of the federal system of government, but 37 percent of them agree with it, while 29 percent disagree and 34 percent remain undecided.
搁贰础顿:听Federal system what? 75% of Filipinos not aware 鈥� SWS survey
Despite this, the pro-administration lawmaker said:聽鈥淚t is really a challenge to the House leadership to now disseminate as far and as much as possible as much public information and public education as regards to this shift to a federal system.鈥�
鈥淲e are in full support of the聽advocacy聽of the President which is why we will continue to push for聽the shift聽to a federal system,鈥� Garcia added.
Pressed on why Duterte鈥檚 popularity has yet to translate to a strong support for federalism, the lawmaker said: 鈥淧erhaps,聽we really need to keep a more open聽mind鈥β燽ecause聽right now there seems to be quite a聽contradiction聽between both survey firms.鈥�
She also said that sometimes surveys are 鈥渄ependent on the moods of the moment.鈥�
鈥淲e are confident that as we continue and step-up a massive information campaign as regards a federal system of government the public opinion will invariably change and we are optimistic that understanding the need for this shift in our system of government, the Filipinos will ultimately embrace federalism,鈥� she added.
The proposed Charter change being pushed by Duterte鈥檚 allies in Congress and by his Consultative Committee (Con-com) could pave the way to a shift to a federal form government 鈥� one of his campaign promises and an advocacy of his political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
But some opposition lawmakers are saying that the administration should not force this change upon the people. /je
搁贰础顿:听Don鈥檛 force Cha-cha 鈥� solons