Isko shuns charter change moves: 'For now, please let's just focus on COVID-19'

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday urged his fellow government officials to focus on containing the coronavirus pandemic, instead of pushing for charter change. 

Speaking to ANC, Moreno said government address first the problem of asymptomatic carriers of the pathogen. Manila is offering free coronavirus tests even to non-residents. 

• Free even for non-residents: Manila ramps up walk-in, drive through virus tests

"I agree in any development at any given time in a normal situation. That's why we elect congressmen and senators to change laws. In this case, if it can help later on, why not? But for now, please let's just focus on dito kay COVID-19," he told ANC. 
 
The interior department said over the weekend that 1,488 municipal mayors expressed support for 2 constitutional reforms, namely: 

- the lifting of foreign restrictions in industries limited to Filipinos; 
- and sourcing internal revenue allotments (IRA) for local governments from all national taxes, and not only those collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
 
"Nothing in the proposal... seeks to do away with the 2022 elections," Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, administrator of his agency's Federalism and Constitutional Reform program, earlier said. 

• Charter change not a priority for now, says Palace, as DILG rallies support
• VP Robredo on charter change: Not now, please

ANC, July 24, 2020