A legislator from the Bicol Region on Sunday expressed optimism that members of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes can find the time this congressional break to weigh this panel’s report on the need to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.
“We are hoping our senators, especially the members of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, can find time during our recess to consider the report of its chairman, Sen. Robin, endorsing constitutional reforms to do away with our 1987 Charter’s economic provisions that have restricted foreign ownership of, or participation in, Philippine businesses,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte, one of the principal authors of the proposed economic Charter Change in the House of Representatives, said views it as a “welcome development” that the committee chaired by Sen. Padilla had sought senator-members’ approval of its report endorsing Charter Change via the Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) option—as against the House-approved resolution and bill advocating the Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) route.
“It will keep the process of constitutional reform going in the 19th Congress,” said Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party.
“As what I have said before the congressional break, it’s beside the point whether the Senate would take a look at improving our Constitution by way of a Con-Con or Con-Ass. What is important at this stage is for the Senate to consider amendments to our flawed Constitution, so the 19th Congress can come up with a consolidated measure green-lighting a Charter makeover, preferably before 2023 is over.”
“The important thing is for us lawmakers to keep the ball rolling on constitutional reforms, in the hope that we can do away soon enough with the restrictive economic provisions of our 36-year-old Charter that have put off investors and impeded the inrush of FDIs [foreign direct investments],” said Villafuerte.
Congress went on a summer recess last March 24. It will resume session on May 7.
The House had passed by a vote of 301, or nearly 96 percent of its 314members, both Resolution of Both Houses (RHB) 6 proposingconstitutional reform via a hybrid Con-Con comprising elective andappointive delegates, and House Bill (HB) 7325 that will be RHB 6’simplementing law.
All 45 members of the NUP, which is the biggest power bloc in theHouse next to the ruling Lakas-CMD led by Speaker Martin Romualdez,had voted for both RHB 6 and HB 7325.
HB 7325 had consolidated four Con-Con bills introduced in the chamber,including HB 4926 authored by Villafuerte.