Speaker Lord Allan Velasco wants the House of Representatives to pass the resolution amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution by May this year. 

“I have to talk to [House committee on constitutional amendments] chair Pido Garbin first. But actually, I see finishing the charter change (Cha-Cha) before the end of May before we go break, finish in the House,” Velasco told reporters in a chance interview on Monday, March 1. 

Velasco’s new timeline is two months later than the date of passage earlier cited by committee chair Alfredo Garbin Jr., who had said the House leadership wanted the resolution passed before Congress takes a break on March 27.

The House is making one last attempt at Cha-Cha via Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 2, primarily authored by Velasco. 

RBH 2 would add the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to constitutional provisions saying only Filipino citizens can control, own, and/or lease alienable lands of public domain, natural resources, public utilities, educational institutions, mass media companies, and advertising companies in the Philippines.

This means lawmakers would be able to use legislation to lift the current prohibitions on foreign investors – something the Constitution does not allow Congress to do at the moment. 

RBH 2 has already been sponsored in the House plenary last February 22, signifying the official start of the period of debates for the measure. But no lawmaker has been called yet for their interpellations.

Velasco and his allies have argued they want to ease the restrictions on foreign investors to help the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic. But this was just the latest twist in efforts to change the charter under President Rodrigo Duterte.

Senators remain opposed to pursuing Cha-Cha, especially amid the crippling pandemic and the proximity of the proceedings to the next national elections in 2022.

But Velasco denied Cha-Cha is already “dead in the water” when sought for comment by reporters.

“Not naman really dead in the water, but we’re just really pushing for Charter Change mainly because of the economic provisions,” said Velasco, reiterating the House’s commitment not to touch on any of the political provisions of the Constitution.

Must Read

Will Congress dance to Duterte’s last Cha-Cha?

Still, the Speaker conceded that he and Senate President Vicente Sotto III are “not really discussing” the urgent passage of RBH 2 in both chambers. 

Velasco said there is no need to rush because Congress supposedly still has enough time to pass RBH 2. 

“Nag-usap na po kami ni SP Sotto pero (SP Sotto and I have talked about it, but) right now, we’re not really discussing it yet because actually we still have a year to be able to tackle the whole charter amendments. To be honest, hindi naman really siya that rushed ba, hindi pa kailangan i-rush ngayon (there’s no need to rush it right now) because we still have a year to do it,” said the Speaker. 

Legislators, however, would likely be preoccupied with the looming 2022 campaign period once they file their respective certificates of candidacy by October this year.

Senators have expressed reservations against amending the Constitution, believing it would be “more practical”  to just pass bills designed to attract more foreign investors than opting for the divisive Cha-Cha route. – Rappler.com