Pulse Asia: Majority of Pinoys reject proposed new charter

Mwhile only 26 percent had "enough knowledge" about it, Pulse Asia found.

"The prevailing sentiment among Filipinos is one of opposition to charter change now," Pulse Asia noted. "Between March and June 2018, public support for changing the 1987 Constitution eases, while opposition to charter change now and in the future becomes more pronounced."

Pulse Asia interviewed 1,800 adult Filipinos, amid the intent of President Rodrigo Duterte to change the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for a federal state.

In July 9, the Consultative Committee (Con-Com) tasked to proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution turned over to Duterte the final draft of the proposed federal charter.

Duterte has repeatedly said that a federal set-up was meant to promote inequality among all regions in the country and boost the economy.

The Con-Com's draft federal constitution aims to create a federal government and federal regions that would govern the people "less in competition but more in cooperation."

When it comes to the proposed shift to federalism, 69 percent had at best a "low level" of knowledge about the federal type of government, while only 31 percent knew "at least enough" knowledge about it, the survey stressed.

Pulse Asia said 62 percent expressed objection to the proposed federal system of government "now and in the future," while only 28 percent were supportive of it. Ambivalence on the matter was expressed by 10 percent adult Filipinos.

Majority levels of opposition to proposed federal were recorded across all geographic areas -- the rest of Luzon (72 percent), Metro Manila (65 percent), Visayas (56 percent), and Mindanao (45 percent).

In socio-economic classes, Class ABC (68 percent), Class D (28 percent), and Class E (54 percent) were also not in favor of changing the system of government in the country to a federal one.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the government took note of the Pulse Asia's survey results, admitting that there was "clearly much work to be done," in terms of spreading awareness and knowledge on the plan to change the 1987 Constitution and establish a federal state.

"We cannot expect our people to support an initiative, which they know only little about," the Palace official said.

"We will therefore exert even more effort to inform and educate our citizens about federalism since the approval of the proposed changes in our current Charter ultimately lies in the hands of the Filipino people," he added.

The pollster used ±2 percentage point error margin at the 95 percent confidence level in conducting the survey. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)

AJORITY of Filipinos were not in favor of the government's plan to amend the 1987 Constitution and establish a federal type of government, pollster Pulse Asia said in its latest survey released Monday, July 16.