‘PCOO should have campaign plans for federalism’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday said he does not know what Malacañang, through the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), is doing to promote a shift in the form of government from unitary to federal system. 

Responding to a statement from PCOO chief Martin Andanar that Charter change is taking a “power nap” at the moment, Pimentel said he has no problem with this as long as the office has actual plans to promote federalism. 

Pimentel said the PCOO should already have concrete plans on how to inform the public about federalism as he has not seen or heard any yet.

“They should have concrete plans and strategies for that, otherwise speaking, if they only have courage to do it, it’s a useless effort,” Pimentel said in Filipino during an interview with dwIZ.

Pimentel said the PCOO, which was tasked to conduct the information campaign about federalism, should already have a specific timetable on when to launch its jingle, on the placement of television advertisements, public appearances of its talking heads in media, and its education program.

“That’s a correct term ‘power nap,’ as if unconscious after a power punch. If they have no plans or strategy, armed only with will and determination, it’s better they sleep,” he said. 

According to Pimentel, the ruling PDP Laban, of which he is president, would continue with its own campaign to promote federalism which is the party’s advocacy.

He said the party is still hoping that a plebiscite on the amendments to the Constitution could be held together with the May 2019 midterm elections.

However, even if this self-imposed target does not materialize, Pimentel said the party would continue its campaign and work on having the plebiscite some other time in the future.

The moves to amend the Constitution have faced a roadblock in the Senate because of the refusal by the senators to undertake charter change before the May 2019 elections.