Senate to prioritize LEDAC bills, not Cha-cha

MANILA – The Senate’s current focus appears to be on prioritizing bills outlined in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) over hastening the approval of the proposed amendment to the 1987 Constitution. This preference is evident in the chamber’s agenda and schedule for the final week of the session.

Senator Sonny Angara’s Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments has not scheduled any hearings for Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH6) until the last session day on March 20. Congress is scheduled to go on recess from March 23 to April 28.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed RBH7 on second reading last week.

Given the current timetable, the Senate will likely not be able to address and pass RBH6 in the immediate future and will have to wait until the session resumes on April 29.

“Yes, because this week is for LEDAC bills like (government) procurement reform laws and others,” Angara said when asked if the Senate would tackle RBH6 after the Lenten break.

In August of last year, senators initially suggested the possibility of exempting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the Government Procurement Reform Act. This exemption would allow the AFP to procure equipment more swiftly in response to increasing provocations by China in the West Philippine Sea.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri proposed a review of the AFP modernization program during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, regarding the proposed National Defense Act and Self-Reliance Defense Posture Revitalization.

Although the Senate does not seem eager to pass a Charter change measure in the near future, Speaker Martin Romualdez and other House leaders expressed their willingness to collaborate with the senators on the issue for the benefit of the country.

“It is important for us to work with the Senate on this, so that we can limit the possible constitutional challenge RBH6 and RBH7 will face,” Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez told a news briefing.

He was alluding to two resolutions currently under consideration in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which contain proposals for economic amendments.

As the Holy Week break is set to commence this weekend, he expressed anticipation for a chance for the leaders of both the House and the Senate to convene and ultimately determine the appropriate steps regarding both RBHs.

He emphasized that Congress leaders simply desire their Senate counterparts to disclose the specific month they plan to pass RBH6.

“What’s important here is letting the people vote, a plebiscite. So, it is important for us to allow the Filipino people to decide on the proposed amendments,” he said.

He suggested that the quickest path for the economic amendment proposals is to secure approval and promptly forward them to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a plebiscite at the earliest opportunity.

Lenten break meeting?

The representative from Quezon stated that the Holy Week break presents the ideal opportunity for leaders from both the Senate and the House of Representatives to discuss methods for advancing Charter Change (Cha-cha).

“We will be going on a break, and I look forward to the opportunity where both leaders of the House and the Senate can meet and finally decide on the proper course of action with regard to both Resolution of Both Houses,” Suarez said.

“The break will be a perfect opportunity for both houses to meet, whether it be in small or big groups, to decide on what will be the necessary steps once we resume session in the latter part of April,” the Quezon province congressman said.

“Perhaps we can maximize our Holy Week break. We can do some self-reflection, we can pray for enlightenment. We can hope for discernment so that we can meet,” he told a regular news briefing, noting that both houses of Congress were making moves in “uncharted waters.”

“Everything is on the table. The best route for us to take is to work with the Senate, because we want to lessen any legal obstacle RBH6 and RBH7 will eventually face,” Suarez said, adding he could not even say yet whether RBH7 would be sent directly to the Comelec.

On his end, Representative Rodge Gutierrez of party-list 1-Rider expressed his hope that the House’s anticipated approval of RBH7 tomorrow would serve as a “trigger” for the Supreme Court to deliberate on this “justiciable issue” and reach a decision on the petition’s merits as soon as possible.

“I do hope that they (SC justices) do consider that as a trigger. And while that is pending, hopefully the SC would start the legal process to finally come up with a definitive answer to these lingering questions,” Gutierrez said.

“Because all of these are important. We’re all moving towards the same goal and… any which way that the SC may rule, it will still be the Filipino people who will have the final say,” he added.

Ultimate destination

House Majority Leader Jose Manuel Dalipe suggested that once RBH7 secures three-fourths of the votes in Congress, the Comelec could become the final destination for the measure.

“That is my interpretation, that the House and the Senate will forward it to Comelec because ultimately, it will be Comelec who will finally decide it. It is up to be presented to … our voters in a plebiscite,” he said in an interview.

House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Representative Jefferson Khonghun suggested that it would be preferable for the Senate to approve RBH6 before it is forwarded to the Comelec.

Additionally, Malasakit@Bayanihan party-list Representative Anthony Golez remarked that the House has reached a juncture in its advocacy for economic Charter reform where numerous possible next steps are available.

He emphasized that the issue of economic Charter change is not about taking a “road less traveled,” but rather navigating a path that has not been traversed by anyone before.

“All these things are possible. But what is most important is that all of us legislators realize, both in the Senate and here in the House, that we have many problems,” Golez said.

He reiterated that permitting the entry of foreign educational institutions would make a significant contribution to economic growth. He noted that many foreign educational institutions, particularly those focusing on medical and healthcare fields, typically offer robust academic programs in health research.

“Let’s say for example, an educational institution wants to invest in health and research facility worth billions of billions in research, let’s say in medicines, if that will be invested in the Philippines and it prospers, the business will grow and many people will be hired,” Golez said.