Senate leaders maintained on Saturday, July 18, that proposals for constitutional amendments remain a "contentious issue.”
The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) had pushed reforms in the 1987 Constitution that will supposedly help them achieve the "economic and social progress in their communities that they and their constituents have dreamed of for a long time."
Together with the appeal, the group of municipal mayors sent the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) a resolution proposing to institutionalize the so-called “Mandanas ruling" of the Supreme Court and the lifting of constitutional restrictions on foreign investments in the country.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, said such proposal is still "up for discussion".
"Although (local government) officials have very valid points, constitutional change or amendments are very contentious issues," he said.
Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate constitutional amendments and revision of codes committee, acknowledged the appeal.
"Everyone is free to express his or her views on charter change I have no problem with that," Pangilinan said in a separate text message.
Since the 17th Congress, senators have been cold to proposals for Charter change as they were unconvinced on its need and urgency. Sotto had said that Charter change is not among the Senate's priorities in the 18th Congress.
The DILG said on Friday that it welcomes the LMP's position.