“We must allow charter change only if it serves the country’s best interest.”

Thus stressed Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim in his welcome remarks last Thursday at the public forum on Charter change sponsored by the Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting (PPCRV) of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese at the Peoples Astrodome.

He said that change must be for the benefit of the many and not for the few, adding that Charter change can never be premised on personal survival or obsession.

“I believe that charter change is our destination, but there is no express train towards it. It cannot be rushed nor manipulated,” apparently referring to the administration’s move to change the system of government from the present presidential to parliamentary as soon as possible.

Speakers who also shared their sentiments on the plan to rewrite anew the Philippine Constitution were Cavite Congressman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa and lawyer Feliciano Bautista, national executive vice-president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Unlike other Cha-cha activities, the Church-sponsored public forum was quite neutral and the avowed objective was only to inform and enlighten the public about the ongoing debate as to whether it was time to effect changes in the Constitution.

Most participants were students of Catholic schools from the province, it was noted. Some barangay leaders and civic volunteers also came.

The Philippine Constitution had undergone several changes since the First Malolos charter was written during the Philippine Revolution at the turn of the 20th century. There were the so-called Marcos Constitution and the Cory Constitution, branded after the country’s presidents who initiated the rewriting. (DOS)