SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday expressed confidence that the Senate would approve proposed amendments to the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions.
“Ako naniniwala sa liderato ng Senado, lalo kay SP (Senate president) Migz (Juan Miguel) Zubiri na kakayanin niya lahat at makukumbinsi niya lahat ng mga kasamahan niya sa Senado,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives told reporters in an ambush interview during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Philippine Cancer Center in Quezon City.
“We understand the challenges, pero the Senate has always live up to the challenge. Magagaling ‘yung mga senador natin and I know that they know what is good for our people,” he said.
Speaker Romualdez was reacting to Zubiri’s statement that getting the needed 18 votes in the Senate for the economic amendment proposals “is a big challenge” but that “it’s not impossible.”
Zubiri earlier said he and his colleagues would approve the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution before Holy Week later this month.
On the part fo the House, the larger chamber of Congress is set to approve Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 on second reading this coming week and third and final reading before Holy Week.
The resolution contains the House version of the proposed amendments. The Senate version is RBH No. 6, authored by Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Edgardo Angara.
Asked if President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has new instructions on economic Charter change proposals, Speaker Romualdez said, “Tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yung economic, ‘yung pag-lift ng restrictions sa economic provisions ng Constitution.”
The House leader is part of the President’s delegation to Australia recently.
“At nakikita ng Australia, lalo na ng mga negosyante, na maganda talaga ang mag-invest sa Pilipinas, lalo na ‘pag binuksan natin ang economic provisions ng Constitution. Higit $1.5 billion ang napirmahan na investment na patungo, papasok sa Pilipinas,” the Speaker said.
“Kaya napaka successful (ng Pangulo), on top of the fact na nagsalita sa Parliament ang ating mahal na Presidente. Siya ang unang Presidente na nag-address sa Australian Parliament,” he said.
He said opening the country’s economy to more foreign investments would create more job and income opportunities for the people.
“Lalo na itong panukalang RBH7 natin, makakatulong na rin ‘yan. Kasi kapag na-liberalize na or nabuksan ang ating ekonomiya, mas maraming foreign direct investment na pumasok at mas maraming trabaho ang mabibigay natin sa taong-bayan,” he added.
He pointed out that the unemployment rate is “dynamic” and fluctuates every now and then, but that the House, together with the executive department, is doing all it can to ease joblessness.
“Yung mga numerong ‘yan, dynamic ‘yan, gumagalaw talaga ‘yan. Kaya yung mga programa, ginagawa natin, lalo na sa paggastos ng ating budget. Araw-araw, ginagawan natin ng paraan ‘yan, kagaya po itong RBH7,” he stressed.
