“We need to do many things. First, determine the true state of the nation, the extent of the deficit. In short, inventory what problems we inherited. If we err in identifying problems, we will come up with wrong solutions.” (PNoy)
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We were very much impressed to hear PNoy’s wise statement above during his Press Conference immediately after his Congressional proclamation. Proper identification and diagnosis of problems first is indeed a must. This scientific approach of problem-solving is a trademark of Organization Development (OD) discipline. It is the systematic way of doing meaningful change especially in an honest-to-goodness reform agenda for our country.
The Philippines STAR columnist Sara Soliven de Guzman in her June 14, 2010 article correctly pointed out: “Some critics may misunderstand this approach but I think doing an ‘inventory,’ of everything in government (including people and offices that may be overlapping in function) is a good step. Just like a traveler who needs a compass to see if he is headed toward the right direction, our new President must use his compass to be on track and not get ‘lost’. He cannot afford to do a ‘hit and miss’ approach, he must be precise in his thoughts and actions. Every decision and move he makes is crucial to the change he has promised.” Well said ma’am.
One of the nagging issues that will surely confront PNoy is the controversial question of Constitutional Reform or Charter Change (Cha-Cha). PNoy’s concise reply on this issue when asked during the recent campaign was: “I will form a Commission to study if there’s really a need and clamor for this.” Now that he’s elected President, we think that this is still his stand on the matter.
There is now a growing sentiment that PNoy should keep his election promise of forming a Study Commission on Constitutional Reform preferably within his 100 days in office. We, members of “Lihuk Pideral Dabaw” (LPD), strongly support the immediate creation of this Commission.
The “Lihuk Pideral Dabaw” thinks that the Commission must be composed of well-meaning people, knowledgeable of the issue at hand, coming from the different sectors, from various regions (perhaps 2 or 3 representatives per region) of the country. Proper consultations on the membership in the Commission must be done by Malacañang to somehow ensure that vital sectors in our society are well represented by competent people in the Commission.
Below is “Lihuk Pideral Dabaw” Resolution to this effect:
Resolution
Urging President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III
To Call for the Formation of the Study Commission on Constitutional Reform
WHEREAS:
1. President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III announced during his campaign to form, within the first month, a commission to study the need to change the Constitution;
2. Lihok Pideral Dabaw (LPD), a regional federal movement with national affiliation, sees the need of the study group as a solution to lasting peace in Mindanao;
3. Any long range reform agenda necessitates structural changes;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. We, officers of the Lihok Pideral Dabaw (LPD), endorse the formation of the study commission on constitutional reform within the first 100-days of President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III;
2. We propose that the formation of the study commission be regionally-represented with at least two representatives per region;
3. We further propose that members of this study group be composed of competent individuals with knowledge of the issues coming from the different sectors of the society;
Done this 17th day of June 2010, Davao City, Philippines.
by Chito Gavino III, Lihok Pideral Dabaw
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