Section 15 of this provision mandates the formation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera "consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures."

"This will be the subject of great debate," he told the Inquirer here on Tuesday.

Ermita was asked about reports that the regions' support for Charter amendments would depend on how the Arroyo administration resolves the issue of whether or not they should remain as independent states in a parliamentary-federal form of government.

Both the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Makati Business Club (MBC) assailed the Arroyo administration for pursuing constitutional reforms in haste.

But Ermita said they have been misinformed.

"It is only the pronouncement of some political leaders which gave us the impression that the administration seems to be hurrying up [Charter change]. But remember the President never said her timetable [for a new Constitution] is July," he said.

It was Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. who claimed that a plebiscite would take place by July, allowing the country time to shift from a presidential form of government to a federated state run by parliament by the end of the year.

The CBCP "has the pulse of the people," Ermita said, and the phrase "haste makes waste is good advice coming from the business sector (referring to the MBC)."

Ermita acknowledged the latest results of a Social Weather Stations survey, which showed that a majority would vote against Charter change if a plebiscite were held today.

"In the same manner that you have been asking me that the surveys say the President's popularity has decreased ... we use surveys as a basis for presidential action. Nevertheless, we have to go by [projections we make about] what can happen in the future," he said.

"The people's initiative was done by local executives taking advantage of the barangay [assemblies] ... Of course, since the major reforms of the President is political reform and Charter change, [she] opted to [support] the initiative," he said.

"After all, what is the presidency about? It is about assisting government and doing something for the greater majority of the people. It's good we have surveys so we can have a benchmark," Ermita said.

Source: INQ7