IF House Speaker Jose de Venecia is to be believed, the Philippines will have a parliamentary government sooner than we think.

De Venecia sounded very optimistic when he said over radio Tuesday that the parliamentary system he has been endorsing for 15 years now will be a reality in the coming months.

He said that practically all sectoral representatives present at the Council of State meeting in Malacañang last Monday endorsed the proposed change in the system of government thru a Constitutional change.

“Sigurado la tan” (That’s for certain) he told DZSD Dagupan referring to the Charter change commonly called “Cha-cha’.

He said that by the second or third week of February, local government units will start discussing the proposed changes thru people’s initiative. By June, he added, a plebiscite will already be held to show whether the people approve or reject the charter change.

The Consultative Commission convened by President Arroyo last year endorsed the parliamentary-federal system of government. The Con-com report will be used by the House of Representatives “as reference.”

The Senate, however seems lukewarm about changing the Constitution thru the Constituent Assembly with both Houses convening as a body to draft a new charter. The Senate prefers changing it thru a Constitutional Convention whose delegates will be elected by the people.

De Venecia appears undisturbed by the Senate’s reaction as he projected that Cha-cha will push thru when majority of the Filipino people endorse it.

In a parliamentary government, he trumpeted that reforms will be more easily implemented as has been seen in nations with such a kind of government.

The opposition snubbed the council meeting saying it was a useless exercise. Many had criticized the meeting because the focus of discussion was Cha-cha instead of the means to uplift the plight of the people.

On calls that elections should push thru in 2007 as against the proposal of the Con-com to shelve it to pave the way for a transition government, De Venecia said the matter is up for the people to decide. (DOS/PIA)