News
Isko Moreno’s fixing of Manila proof that PH problems can be solved w/o Cha-cha — Recto
The efforts done by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso to fix the capital city of the Philippines is an example that the country does not need to amend the 1987 Constitution to solve its problems, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said on Wednesday, July 10.
“A change of plans, vision and management style will do wonders and spark change immediately, rather than the untested benefits that Charter change promises to bring,” he said in his statement.
According to the lawmaker, changing the Constitution is neither the answer to problems like flooding, traffic, crime, and trash nor the ‘main ingredient’ to increase employment, develop industries, and have more housing projects.
“It seems that more progress can be wrought by seriously implementing whatever existing laws there are than in rewriting the basic law of the land later,” Recto said.
The senator, however, said he acknowledged the right and welcomed the move of those supportive of Cha-cha “to bring their proposals for debate in a manner that is exhaustive, not expedient; thorough, not truncated.”
“Any idea that is presented before Congress must win by the force of its arguments and not by the mere number of people supporting it,” he continued.
Domagoso has been in the news and has been earning praises from several government officials recently for addressing Manila’s many woes immediately after he assumed his post, including clearing up streets and sidewalks of some areas in Manila like Divisoria and Quiapo.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), through its Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III, said the efforts initiated by the newly-elected mayor were “very much appreciated” in making those parts of the country’s capital city “more accessible” to tourists as the DOT is aiming to provide foreigners “more diverse tourist offerings” in Manila.
“Just imagine if our tourists can walk around the streets of Manila and at the same time enjoy the food in Binondo, enjoy the shopping in Divisoria, in a more organized manner,” Alabado earlier said in an economic briefing at the Palace.