IN an interview with DZRH’s “Balansyado” on Tuesday, December 26, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go stressed the importance of public sentiment and of prioritizing the welfare of the Filipino people over political interests in the context of any proposals for Charter Change.
Go expressed his agreement with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri‘s stance that a comprehensive survey should be conducted to gauge the Filipino people’s sentiment on any proposed Charter Change.
“Alam n’yo, bilang isang senador, agree po ako sa stand ng ating Senate President Migz Zubiri na kailangang ipa-survey muna. Tignan natin ano bang sentimyento ng mga kababayan natin, kung prayoridad ba ito ngayon, kakailanganin ba ito ngayon,” he stated.
“At iyan po’y sang-ayon po ako diyan na pag-aralan munang mabuti,” added Go.
Go also emphasized that any Charter Change should primarily benefit the Filipino people, especially the less fortunate, rather than the politicians pushing for it.
“Ngunit kung saka-sakali talagang pag-usapan nila o namin ang Charter Change, dapat po’y hindi pulitiko ang makikinabang. Dapat po ang Pilipino ang makikinabang. Dapat po, yung mahihirap nating kababayan ang makikinabang,” he asserted.
Previously, Go urged the government and legal experts to study thoroughly the idea of changing the country’s system of governance to federalism, noting that it would grant localities more autonomy in addressing their constituency’s concerns.
“Pag-aralan natin nang mabuti ‘yung federalism, mas dagdag at malawak na control sa mga local officials sa kanilang pagresolba sa mga problema sa kanilang kinaroroonan,” said Go in his previous interviews.
The senator also pointed out that since other regions will be able to maximize their resources under a federal set-up, this may lead to increased economic development for those areas.
“Mas magiging mas mabilis ang pag-unlad dahil mas malaking income matatanggap nila —yung share nila sa mga buwis… at wastong paggamit ng kanilang likas na yaman ang maiiwan po sa kanila dito sa federalism,” he added.
If the country shifts to federalism, the senator reiterated that local governments will be able to provide more appropriate solutions to their pressing concerns since they are more familiar with their respective situations.
“Mas magiging akma po ang magiging solusyon dahil alam ninyo ang puno’t dulo ng isyu diyan, mas kapa nila ang problema sa baba, mas alam ng mga local, so mas mabilis po ang ating mga disaster response, matutugunan kaagad,” he added.
Nevertheless, Go underscored the imperative that any reforms must be undertaken with the paramount interest of the Filipino people as the guiding principle.
