#AnimatED: Time to Cha-Cha

Today, we are in in the midst of discussions and debates on changing our 29-year old Constitution. 

President Duterte and his allies in Congress, who belong to the majority, are pushing for Charter change (Cha-Cha) and a new Constitution within 3 to 4 years, focusing on shifting the political structure of government to a federal form.

Initially, Duterte advocated holding a constitutional convention (con-con) but changed his mind when he learned of the cost, which could reach billions of pesos. Members of the con-con are voted in elections and determine their own timetable in re-drafting the Constitution.

The most convenient mode, which Duterte now prefers, is a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) whereby members of Congress convene as a body that will amend the Constitution.

A 3^rd option is an appointed body, a constitutional commission similar to the one created by President Corazon Aquino in 1986. Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has proposed a permutation to this: the Constitutional Commission will draft the Constitution and submit it to Congress sitting as a Con-Ass for deliberations.

Apart from the form, the other formidable issue is what parts of the Constitution will be changed. While discussion on the proposed political amendments is going on, the economic aspects should not be forgotten. A number of studies have already been made on the need to amend certain economic provisions of the charter.

It is about time our Constitution becomes more responsive to the needs of the country and adapts to new circumstances. While the Constitution enshrines our most basic principles, rock-solid constants in guiding our course, it shouldn’t be impervious to change.

But despite past debates on amending the Constitution – President Benigno Aquino III shot down calls for Cha-Cha—and the current flurry of talk, many are not keen on taking this route.

A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that 44% of Filipinos oppose cha-cha. What is more disconcerting is that a large majority, 73%, have “almost none or no knowledge at all” of the supreme law of the land.

This ignorance has to be addressed by schools, universities, government, the media, and civil-society groups that advocate changing the Constitution.

This is the reason why, every year, February 2 passes by, unheralded. That’s our Constitution Day, the day the 1987 Constitution was ratified. Commemoration activities are few, if any, and forgettable.

Compare this to other countries’ Constitution Day. Let’s take a sampling from North America, Asia, and Europe. 

In the US, ceremonies to mark the day are held in schools, with lessons on the Constitution and citizenship.

In Japan, it is a national holiday honoring the ratification of its Constitution after the end of World War II.

Norway bursts with celebration because the Constitution, which declared their independence from Sweden, was signed.

We need to appreciate our Constitution, learn more about it and the contested provisions, and do our share in enlightening the debates. – Rappler.com