HOUSE members in a press briefing on Monday explained the importance of convening as a committee of the whole to tackle Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which proposes amendments to Articles XII, XIV and XVI of the 1987 Constitution.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David “Jay-Jay” Suarez said Filipinos can expect a “very fruitful, enlightening, exhaustive and inclusive discussion and deliberation” on the measure.
“(In convening the Committee of the Whole) we wanted to have the participation of all 300 plus Congressmen in the deliberation, because being the voice of their respective sectors and their respective districts, it is important that they also give their opinions and they also give their ideas when it comes to amending the Constitution,” he said.
Although President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed the Senate to lead in tackling the changes in the Constitution’s economic provisions, Suarez stressed the importance of recognizing each House member’s opinion.
Moreover, he noted that it is also important for the House to tackle its own counterpart measure, rather than automatically embrace and adapt what the Senate will produce in relation to this critical measure.
“So para magkaroon ng mas magandang output, it is vital for us, for the House to come up and to have our own deliberations on RBH 7 because this will really show the true intention of congressmen when it comes to amending the Constitution,” he added.
Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy V stressed that this is the most opportune time for the House to discuss and tackle RBH No. 7 as a committee of the whole.
“And at the end of the day, ang boboto naman po dito, ang huling may say po dito, ay ang taong-bayan. So let us begin the deliberations, i-propose po natin kung anong mga amendments or economic provisions na dapat palitan, and at the end of the day, ang ating mga kababayan naman po ang boboto para dito,” Dy said.
Taguig City Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora considered the committee of the whole as a fruitful start in the effort to amend the Constitution. She noted that experts and resource persons were invited to clarify the lawmakers’ questions to guarantee a comprehensive discussion of the topic.
