Two days after hurdling the committee level, the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 calling for a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Charter has reached the plenary of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The Lower Chamber began its plenary debates on Charter change (Cha-cha) even after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it was not his administration’s priority.
Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, chairperson of the constitutional amendments panel, sponsored the measure on Wednesday.
“The compelling reason is that this institution cannot turn its back from the truth and reality that the 1987 Constitution needs to be reviewed for it is the third most restrictive in the world and the most restrictive in ASEAN. Its inflexibility and restrictiveness hampers foreign direct investments to come in as much as they do in other countries,” Rodriguez said.
He cited the public hearings conducted by the House which showed that majority of the stakeholders were in favor of the proposed amendments.
“The result shows that out of 552 reactors and respondents, 424 or 77% are in favor, 109 or 20% are against and 19 or 3% abstained. In the mode preferences, 226 or 41% are for Constitutional Convention, 91 or 16% are for Constituent Assembly, 77 or 14% are for People’s Initiative and 158 expressed their no preference or 29%,” Rodriguez said.
Deputy Speaker Aurelio Dong Gonzales said Filipinos are “expecting an exhaustive deliberation of this Resolution of Both Houses No. 6.” (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado brought up Mr. Marcos’ previous statement that there is no need to amend the Charter to attract foreign investments.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself, mentioned that charter Change is not among the priorities of his administration,” Bordado said.
Rodriguez, however, expressed confidence that the President will respect the independence of the legislative branch.
Rodriguez said based on estimates by the Commission on Elections, it would need P1.5 billion to include a separate line for the choice of con-con delegate in the ballot of the October 2023 barangay and youth polls.
Rodriguez added the Constitutional convention itself would require a budget of about P6 billion while another P3 billion will be used for the conduct of a plebiscite on the proposed amendments.
“This is of transcendental importance since this is about having a con-con that will draft a new constitution that is more attuned to globalization and provide job opportunities to our people,” Rodriguez said.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier questioned the hasty approval of the resolution.
“Cha-cha is both out of tune and out of step now because the government has to first fully address priority concerns on poverty alleviation, lack of food security, disastrous effects of an 8.7 percent inflation rate, and the adverse consequences of a possible recession,” Lagman said.