CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA This chapter deals with the presentation, analysis and interpretation

of data relative to the problems stated in chapter 1.

1.

What are the perceptions of RTU students on Charter Change? Table 6

Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of RTU Students regarding Charter Change N=300 Perception of the Students on Charter Change Charter Change will promote development and prosperity in terms of economic activity which respects and upholds human dignity. Charter Change will be used to curtail civil liberties Charter Change is the only way to solve poverty by amending the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution Charter Change will benefit only foreigners by allowing them to own and solely control land, business, and property in Philippines Charter Change will lead to worst Political bureaucracy, because Legislative and Executive department will merge Charter change will liberate the restrictive economic policies that will encourage greater participation of foreign capital and business for the socio-economic developments. Charter Change will design competent economic policies that will enhance foreign relation. Charter Change paves the way for the worst kind of human rights and other social violations. Charter Change will uphold and enhance vital participation of people in the society. f 107 93 81 131 172 150 % 35.66 31 27 43.66 57.23 50 Ranking 6 7 9 4 2 3

88 129 76

29.33 43 25.33

8 5 10

95 Charter Change is just a diversionary tactic for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to escape from legal prosecution after her term in 2010 208 69.33 1

Table 6 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of RTU Students regarding Charter Change. The tabulated data reveal that majority of the respondents believed that Charter Change is a diversionary tactic of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to escape from legal prosecution after her term in 2010 which ranked the First with a frequency of 208 from the total number of 300 responses of respondents. And the lowest is Charter Change will uphold and enhance vital participation of people in the society which ranked tenth with a total of 76 responses by the respondents from the over-all number of 300 respondents. The tabulated data presented only the highest and the lowest variables of the study. Torino in his article believed that under a transition government, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will assume the position of both head of government and head of state, consolidating her grip over the entire interim parliament which strengthens the perception of the students responses. Also it is strongly affirmed the Social Weather Stations survey result "that Pres. Gloria MacapagalArroyo is behind the current efforts to amend the Constitution in order to extend her term beyond 2010. It consolidated the result of IBON Foundation that showed that majority of the respondents believed that the real motive behind current Cha-cha proposals is for the president to stay in power beyond 2010.Constitution.

96 It showed that the perception of the respondents on Charter Change is merely a Political move by the President to stay in power beyond her term as recognized by the Constitution. 2. What are the motives of the Government in the pursuit of Charter Change? Table 7 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Motives of the Government in the pursuit of Charter Change N= 300 Motives of the Government in the pursuit of Charter Change To maintain supremacy in power of the Government Official To revise/ change some provisions of the constitution that hamper the growth and inhibit the countrys development. To immune President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from suit after her term of office in 2010. To maintain economic stability of the country To uplift the status of the Filipino people from poverty. To spur the economy by removing constitutional restrictions on foreign investments. To improve the Political System of the Philippines To solve the revolutionary constraint in Mindanao To prepare the nation in a sudden change with the form of Government. To extend the term of government officials f 203 152 185 59 68 113 81 47 114 191 19.66 22.66 37.66 27 15.66 38 63.66 % 67.66 50.66 61.66 Ranking 1 4 3 9 8 6 7 10 5 2

Table 7 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Motives of the Government in the pursuit of Charter Change. The tabulated data reveal that majority of the students believed that the prime motive of the government in pushing Charter Change is To maintain

97 supremacy in power of the Government Official which ranked first among the given variables, it garnered a total of 203 responses from the 300 total numbers of responses from the respondents. While To solve the revolutionary constraint in Mindanao got least number of 47 responses among the total number of 300 responses from the respondents. Torino state that the real deal behind Charter Change is the shift from the Presidential bicameral to the Parliamentary form of government, empowering the Executive over the Legislative and Judiciary system, as an indirect attempt of the President to garner more power. It strengthen the study of The Research and Consultancy Department of Ateneo Statistics Circle that holds the primary purpose of the Government in pushing Charter Change is to extend the terms of the incumbent Government officials. It show that the students perceived that the real motive of the government officials in pushing Charter Change is to extend their terms in order to gain more power.

98 3. What are the implications of Charter Change? Table 8 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the People N=300 Implications of Charter Change to the People The socio-economic status of the people will become better The socio-economic status of the people will become worst It will bring greater disunity and political crisis to the country Filipino people will be suppressed of their rights to own land because foreigners are more capacitated to own and control lands Charter Change paves the way for the worst kind of human rights and other social violations Loss of Patriotic Consciousness Greater Opportunity in Education and Employment. Democratic Rights will be Limited because the majority of citizens, i.e. all Filipinos of legal age, are unable to constructively engage the State because it is costly in financial and temporal terms. It will mobilize and sustain people power in national, regional, and local governance to reduce poverty and corruption It will provide more social reforms for the peoples benefits f 60 134 139 180 138 120 62 169 % 20 44.66 46.33 60 46 40 20.66 46.33 Ranking 10 5 3 1 4 6 9 2

91 69

30.33 23

7 8

Table 8 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the People. The tabulated data reveal that majority of the respondents believed that the Implication of Charter Change to the People are that the Filipino people will be suppressed of their rights to own land because foreigners are more capacitated to own and control lands which ranked first among the given

99 variables, it garnered a total of 180 responses from the 300 total number of responses from the respondents. And their lowest ranked among the ten variables is the socio-economic status of the people will become better it garnered a total number of 60 responses among the total number of 300 responses from the respondents. Africa in his article state that the losses to the economy from unrestrained foreign investor domination will be immense. Local enterprises and businesses, already reeling from decades of globalization, will be weakened further. The countrys scarce mineral, forestry and fishery resources will be exploited with scant benefits for the local economy, while local communities will be dislocated. It is believe that Cha-cha draft was practically waving a go-signal for human rights abuse and foreign exploitation. Charter Change hails to be Philippines one way ticket to economic prosperity but seeing through the thinveiled reception, Cha- cha is actually an express ride towards foreign exploitation of the country.

100 Table 9 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the Government N=300 Implications of Charter Change to the People The structure of government will be improved The expenses of the government for the Legislative Branch will be lessening. A single legislative chamber can exercise more effective control over the country's fiscal policies and annual budget appropriations and it means faster legislation The opposition in the government will be overruled and deprived representing their views and concern in the government. It will demand the politicians to honor their promises and commitments. The structure of government will become inefficient or ineffective A unicameral set-up affords a simpler, less redundant legislative organization Speedy legislation and decisions by Unicameral Parliament can also mean speedy mistakes Fusion of executive and legislative powers in a parliamentary system is therefore more prone to abuse and corruption More transparent and effective government will be created. f 80 76 128 142 98 133 81 133 155 89 32.66 44.33 27 44.33 51.66 15.33 % 26.66 25.33 42.66 47.33 Ranking 9 10 5 2 6 3.5 8 3.5 1 7

Table 9 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to Government. The tabulated data reveal that majority of the respondents believed that the Implication of Charter Change to the Government are: The Fusion of executive and legislative powers in a parliamentary system is therefore more prone to abuse and corruption which ranked the first among given variables it outsized the other with a total number of 155 from the total number of 300 responses. And the expenses of the government for the Legislative Branch will

101 be lessen which ranked the last with a total of 76 responses by the respondents from the over-all number of 300 respondents. The data show that students believed that the Implication of Charter Change to the Government is that The Fusion of executive and legislative powers in a parliamentary system is therefore more prone to abuse and corruption; Paredes stated that the parliamentary system will likely lead to an oligarchy because of the built-in fusion of executive and legislative powers while Abueva in his statement believed that Parliamentary exercises both legislative power and executive power will ensure the coordinated, efficient, and effective making of laws and policies and their implementation which the students believed this as the other way of connivance to ensure their interests. It is believe that the fusion of the Executive and Legislative branch of the government through Charter Change will pave way for more abuse and corruption in the government since the Prime Minister will be chosen among the members of the Parliament.

102 Table 10 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the Economy N=300 Implications of Charter Change to the Economy The economy of the country will become better by removing Equity Restrictions on Foreign Investments The economy of the country will become worst because a power bloc in the administration now enjoys a monopoly in two of the three branches of government The economy will be manipulated by those people in power Foreign investors will be attracted to set up productive activities such as plants and factories to manufacture goods that are now being imported from other countries The local industry will die and it/we will just depend to foreign products Generating employment and these companies would pay taxes here and purchasing our own products for their use. Free the market to foreign investment. Filipinos would no longer need to go to foreign lands since opportunities will be right in our doorsteps The State can fully regulate, monitor, and exercise their power in the foreign investment and investors It will create more jobs for people that will be able to compete in global perspective. f 103 162 163 127 121 90 103 103 84 92 % 34.33 54 54.33 42.33 40.33 30 34.33 34.33 28 30.66 Ranking 6 2 1 3 4 9 6 6 10 8

Table 10 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the Economy. The tabulated data revealed that majority of the respondents believed that the Implication of Charter Change to the Economy. First, the economy will be manipulated by those people in power with a frequency of 163 responses from 300 total numbers of respondents. While the State can fully regulate, monitor,

103 and exercise their power in the foreign investment and investors ranked the tenth with a frequency of 84 from a total responses of 300. It data show that the students believed that the economy will be

manipulated by those people in power and they less convince that the State can fully regulate, monitor and exercise their power in the foreign investment and investors. Abueva stated that the economic reform will attract more foreign investments to enable the Philippines to reduce poverty and social inequality but it is opposed by Africa in his article stated that the losses to the economy from unrestrained foreign investor domination will be immense. Local enterprises and businesses, already reeling from decades of globalization, will be weakened further. The countrys scarce mineral, forestry and fishery resources will be exploited with scant benefits for the local economy, while local communities will be dislocated. It is believe that Charter Change reforms on economic liberalization will not truly response to the development needs of the people and it is merely a grand design to promote the narrow self-serving agenda of some politicians.

104 Table 11 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the System of Governance N=300 Implications of Charter Change to the System of Governance Government officials will become abusive in exercising their power. The Government will create more laws and surely implement them. The corruption will be lessen Check and Balance in the Legislative and Executive Branch will be eradicated The authority will abuse the power against the people. The government will be able to help in attracting far more substantial investments that will create more jobs, raise personal incomes, provide better education, health, welfare, and security to our people, and generate badly needed revenues; Politician could extend their power to protect only their self interest. The corruption will become worst Good governance shall be selected that will be able to restore the integrity of Government. The government and the leaders will be able respond more efficiently and effectively to the countrys problems, meets its challenges and achieve its goals, and compete in the global economy; f 182 118 47 103 181 89 % 60.66 39.33 15.66 34.33 60.33 29.66 Ranking 1 5 10 6 2 7

163 151 73 86

54.33 50.33 24.33 28.66

3 4 9 8

Table 11 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Implication of Charter Change to the System of Governance. The tabulated data reveal that majority of the respondents believed that the Implication of Charter Change to the System of the Governance. First the Government officials will become abusive in exercising their power with a total

105 frequency of 182 responses or 60.66%. And the last is that the corruption will be lessening with a total number of 47 or 15.66 % of the total responses. The data show that the majority students of RTU-Pasig believed that the implication of Charter Change to the System of Governance is that the Government officials will become abusive in exercising their power and The Authority will abuse the power against the people. Only a small number of respondents answer that the corruption will be lessen. In the article of Neal H. Cruz it simply affirmed that the perception of students in the implication of Charter Change to the system of governance is that the framers of all constitutions recognized the temptation of lawmakers to abuse their powers and pass laws that would benefit themselves. One is the motive of those who want to change it. The congressmen, governors and mayors want their terms extended. It is believe that the Perception of the RTU students on the implication of Charter Change to the System of Governance will lead to the government officials to be more abusive since their term is extended.

106

4. What mode of Charter change is best applicable to the Philippines? Table12 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Mode of Charter Change that is best applicable to the Philippines N=300 Mode of Charter change that is best applicable to the Philippines Constitutional Convention: It is a body established by law to frame a new Constitution or revise an existing one for the approval of the people. It requires the direct election of the delegates by the people from the different districts and sectors of society. Constituent Assembly: It composed of the Senate and House of Representatives become a constituent body exercising special power upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members to formulate a new constitution or propose amendments to the constitution. Peoples Initiative: It is an amendments directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of: (1) at least 12% of the total number of registered voters; and (2) every legislative district must be represented by at least 12% of the registered votes therein. f 107 % 35.66 Ranking 1

92

30.66

103

34.33

Table 12 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Mode of Charter Change that is best applicable to the Philippines The Tabulated data reveal that students prefer the Constitutional Convention as the best applicable mode of Charter Change with a total number of 107 responses from the respondents with an approximate percentage of 35.66% from the total of 300 responses. The second mode of Charter Change that is preferred by the students is Peoples Initiative with 103 numbers of

107 responses with an approximate percentage of 34.33% from the total number of response. And the last is the Constituent-Assembly that was least prefer by the students in Charter Change, with a total of 92 responses of an approximate percentage of 30.66% of the total number of responses. The data show that the students much prefer Constitutional Convention if ever there will be Charter Change, but they less prefer the Constituent Assembly as the Mode for Changing the Constitution. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines believed that the constitutional convention - wherein delegates are elected by the people -- is the least controversial, the most democratic and could meet popular approval . It is strongly confirmed by the study made by Pulse Asia regarding the stand of the Filipinos on the mode of Charter Change, the survey showed that Filipinos favored a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Constitution and outnumbered those supportive of convening Congress into a constituent assembly.

108 5. What must be the personal and professional qualifications/ attributes of the formulators and executors of Charter Change?

Table 13 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Personal and Professional Qualification/Attributes of the formulators and Executors of Charter Change N=300 Personal and Professional qualifications/ attributes of the formulators and executors of Charter Change He must be a Natural born Filipino Citizen He must be a qualified voter He must be a resident of the Philippines for at least 25 years Must not have been candidates for any elective position in the Government Must be with proven competence in their respective fields. Must be a member of the Marginalized sector of the Philippines Must be of recognized probity, integrity, competence, honesty, independence and nationalism Must be with proven competent knowledge on the past and recent Constitution of the Philippines. Must not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude He must be creative, innovative, have genuine concern for the people, and God- fearing. f 184 138 112 76 131 55 202 129 126 184 % 61.33 46 37.33 25.33 43.66 18.33 67.33 43 42 61.33 Ranking 2.5 3 7 8 4 9 1 5 6 2.5

Table 13 show the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on the Personal and Professional

Qualification/Attributes of the formulators and Executors of Charter Change. The Tabulated data revealed that the majority of the students believed that the Personal and Professional Qualification/Attributes of the framers of

109 Charter Change. First; Must be of recognized probity, integrity, competence, honesty, independence and nationalism with a frequency of 202 responses from the total number of 300 responses of respondents. And the last is that the formulators and Executors of Charter Change Must be a member of the Marginalized sector of the Philippines which garnered a total of 55 responses from the total 1337 responses of respondents. The data analyze only the first and last variables on which the students believed the most. And it shows that students of RTU-Pasig believed that the formulators and Executors of Charter Change shall embrace

qualifications/attributes of; he/she must be of recognized probity, integrity, competence, honesty, independence and nationalism. In the statement of Kiunisala that the delegates to the Convention were to be men of honor, courage, dedication, wisdom and vision. Certainly, men of less stern stuff have no place in such a body, charged as it is with the sacred duty of charting the national destiny. It shows that the students perceived that the framers of the new Philippine Constitution shall embrace ethical qualities in order to formulate a constitution that will benefit every Filipino.

110 6. What are the proposed features/measures for an effective new Constitution? Table 14 Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on their proposed features/measures for an effective new Constitution N=300 Proposed features/measures for an effective new Constitution There should be a good and clear definition of Political Dynasty and prohibit this act in the Philippine Government System There should be a better qualifications for running in the public office in order to elect a more competent leader The State shall also establish and maintain free public education for the tertiary level in order to produce more competent Filipinos There shall be clearer definitions of peoples right Special Committee designated from different multisector party, lawyers group are the one who will select and elect the member of Supreme Court- To prevent suspicion from the people and maintained the Check and Balance in government. There shall be limitations in the prerogatives of public officials and additional modes of removing or recalling elected officials. Death Penalty shall be imposed in all Government officials if proven of corruption, betrayal of public fund and human rights violation. No re-election for the Executive Officials shall be allowed. There shall be reforms in the Judiciary to make the administration of justice more effective. Pork-Barrel by the Legislative Body shall be eliminated f 134 150 172 105 137 % 44.66 50 74.33 35 45.66 Ranking 4 2 1 7 3

130 122 70 89 87

43.33 40.66 20.33 29.66 29

5 6 10 8 9

111 Table 14 shows the Frequency and Percentage Distribution as to the Perception of the Students on their proposed features/measures for an effective new Constitution. The tabulated data reveal that majority of the students believed that the State shall also establish and maintain free public education for the tertiary level in order to produce more competent Filipinos with a total number of responses of 172 from the total number of 1196 total number of responses. And No re-election for the Executive Officials shall be allowed that ranked the last among the ten variables which garnered a total response of 70 from the total number of 300 respondents. The data show that students of RTU prefer to have an additional provision in our Constitution for free Tertiary education for the Filipinos to be more competitive but the students less prefer to limit the re-election for the Executive Department of the Philippine Government. In the words of David Duhalde Education has long been viewed as a means to ensure we have a stable democratic republic. The better educated the citizenry, the better the voter. There is a critical point connecting this discussion of student debt and higher education to democracy. Before we begin as undergraduates, we operate in a world of rules, repetition, and regurgitation in high school. Once we reach college, it becomes one of the first times in which we are intellectually pushed to think for ourselves and encouraged to debate others. Democratic socialists value this freedom in education as the bedrock of any better society. For us, education is about giving citizens a greater

112 understanding so they can be better democratic participants in society. Unlike capitalists, we want general education to be more than about future employment. It should also be about making people sophisticated and nuanced. Education also provides a livable alternative to the corporate wage-system. We want people to work in education for the intellectual common good, not business interests. It show that the respondents believed that an additional provision in our Constitution on free tertiary education will enhance the citizen of the country in order to produce more competitive that may also lead for a better citizens, government, system of government and for a better economy.