LAWMAKERS on Wednesday urged senators to heed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s call to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution for the country’s advancement.
The President recently underscored the need for swift action to incorporate amendments into the 37-year-old Charter, emphasizing their crucial role in attracting investments and promoting the upskilling of Filipinos.
In a press conference, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo expressed his view that the President’s call was “born out of frustration,” a sentiment which he shared.
Like the President, Dimaporo expressed dismay over the prolonged delay in pursuing Charter amendments, attributing obstacles primarily to the Senate.
Dimaporo, who served as a congressman for three terms, emphasized the urgent need to move forward with debates and enactments to deliver tangible results for the Filipino people.
“The problem has always been with the Senate. Now we understand in the Senate maybe there are more priorities when it comes to our national concerns,” Dimaporo pointed out.
He added: “But I think this is now, I mean, three terms, that’s three Congresses, that’s nine years. How many more Presidents do we have to wait until the Senate is no longer busy?”
Dimaporo highlighted the readiness of the House of Representatives to initiate discussions but pointed out the apparent lack of prioritization and action in the Senate.
“We’re now in the 19th Congress, the 18th Congress, 17th Congress. We’ve been talking about Charter change. And here in the House, we’re always ready,” Dimaporo said.
“Let’s stop making the pronouncements. Let’s start the debates so that we can deliver something for the Filipino people,” he said.
In supporting the Chief Executive’s call for swift action on economic constitutional reforms, Manila 1st Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. drew parallels between the President and the captain of the nation’s ship.
Dionisio emphasized the critical role of the President’s call to improve the economy through necessary reforms.
“In my view, the President is like the captain of our nation’s ship. So the captain is speaking, stating that this is what we need to improve our economy,” Dionisio said, underlining the importance of heeding the President’s directives.
Dionisio clarified that the intention is not to immediately implement changes but rather to initiate a debate to gain a comprehensive understanding of the required actions.
He stressed the urgency of addressing long-awaited reforms that have been pending for a significant period.
“We’re not saying that this will be done immediately. Opening the debate, we will have a clear understanding of everything that needs to be done,” Dionisio emphasized, highlighting the need to kickstart the process to resolve longstanding issues.
Echoing the President’s sentiments, Dionisio emphasized the significance of Charter amendments for the country’s progress.
“I think we should support him so he will succeed. And if the President succeeds, we all succeed as a nation,” Dionisio said.
For his part, La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega said that House members are looking forward to the discussions on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which mirrors RBH No. 6 pending in the Senate.
Both resolutions seek to amend specific economic provisions in the Constitution pertaining to public services, education, and advertising.
The House is set to convene as a committee of the whole to tackle RBH 7 next week.
“Of course we are one with the President sa kanyang vision for the economy. And masaya kami pagde-debatehan na po ito sa House, mapag-uusapan na po sa House then hopefully we can get together with the Senate para together maayos natin ang resolution ng House,” Ortega said.
Ortega said the House aims to finish the deliberations and approval of RBH 7 before the Holy Week break.
“We’ve been urging the Senate to do the same. In a perfect world, that’s really what we want to happen so we can start working on it immediately because this is really needed,” Ortega said.
“This is not only for our country but, of course, for the people in need,” he added, underscoring the potential positive impact of the proposed changes on the population.
