Senator Nancy Binay seemed to be curious on how Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) would raise the awareness of her fellow Filipinos regarding the proposed shift to a federal form of government.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 1, Binay said she would recommend Uson to Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes to become one of the resource persons in the next Senate hearings on the proposed charter change (Cha-cha).
Since President Rodrigo Duterte’s Consultative Committee (Con-com) tapped Uson, who was accused of spreading false information online, to lead an information drive about federalism, Binay believed that it would be best for the Palace official if she could present the content of the federalism campaign as well as the plan to change the 1987 Constitution.
“Being the designated messenger, we also wanted to hear how she would articulate or interpret the salient points of the proposed federal charter and explain to the people how a shift in the form of government could move the country forward. Dagdag na rin ang kanyang iba pang (She should also add her other) concept or idea sa (in the) information campaign using social media,” Binay said.
“How the messenger relays the message is important. Clarity and knowledge about the subject are equally important elements. It is also a matter of providing the people of options, or an informed choice for them to genuinely know what’s good and bad about changing the form of government,” she added.
The Senator also noted that Uson will utilize a P90-million budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Con-com for the information drive.
A Pulse Asia survey released on July 16 revealed that among 10 Filipinos, almost seven of them admitted that they have low-level of understanding of the federal system of government proposed by the Duterte administration.
[READ: Majority of Filipinos against Cha-cha now, federalism – Pulse Asia]
“Majorities across geographic areas and socio-economic classes know little/almost nothing/nothing at all about the alternative system of government that is being proposed to replace the current unitary system (60% to 77% and 54% to 79%, respectively),” the pollster said.
“Of the total figure (69%), 43% know little about the proposed federal system while 27% know almost nothing/nothing at all about it,” it added.
2 comments on “Nancy Binay wants Mocha Uson to be resource person in Cha-cha hearings”
Trying to be objective and impartial, I note the well-stated rationale by Nancy Binay of the Senate for seeking to have this Mocha as a “resource person” for the hearings on Charter change. BUT frankly, what percentage of this resource person’s statements can we believe? We can only expect that she will read prepared statements lauding federalism and lambasting the current unitary, Manila-centric system of governance and fund-raiding – er, fund distribution for projects. How much will be fake news? Will we be treated to new geography lessons relocating cities etc.? Will we see pictures of South American people rallying and captioned as Filipino supporters of federalism? In short – ano na namang kabulastugan ito? Let the Palace find other venues to show this Mocha’s face.
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