People's initiative proponents eyeing plebiscite by July —Salceda

Proponents of people's initiative (PI) for Charter change (Cha-cha) are aiming to have the plebiscite by July as they expect to reach the required number of signatures by then, according to Albay Representative Joey Salceda.

“As far as it was explained to me by the proponents, they want to hit it before July, July plebiscite,” Salceda said in Tina Panganiban Perez's report on Unang Balita on Friday.

For the people's initiative, signatures of 3% of the registered voters per congressional district and 12% nationwide are needed.

“I think most of the country, I think by next week, we must have already achieved the 12%. It was a question lang talaga of physically submitting it to the local Comelec (Commission on Elections),” Salceda said.

Asked if this will be a gift for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Salceda said “[I]t was not the point.”

“The point there is it has to be reasonably actionable, that there is enough time before the 2025 elections,” he said.

Salceda also denied that lawmakers are involved in pushing for people's initiative, saying the move relies solely on the efforts of the people.

'Why us?'

“Bakit kami (Why us)? House initiative PI is a nice headline. But basically you cannot do it,” he said.

Despite Marcos ordering the Senate to lead the move to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, Salceda preferred following the Resolution of Both Houses 2 of the House.

According to Salceda, the Senate version will only impact the 2% gross domestic product (GDP) while the House version will impact 14%.

Under the House resolution, foreigners will be allowed to invest in the Philippines' natural resources, utilities, land, schools, media, and advertising.

However, Marcos already opposed foreign ownership of lands in the country, according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Meanwhile, the group Sanlakas discouraged the public from signing for Cha-cha, pointing out that the country does not need it at present. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News