The chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Reforms on Friday slammed the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo for scoffing at the ongoing Charter change effort as a mere waste of peoples time and money.

In a press statement, Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin said resuscitating the bid to amend the 1987 has become vital as the country battles the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy.

Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, had earlier criticized fresh moves to amend the Charter with only a few months remaining for Congress to act on it.

Garbin said the 33-year-old Constitution must be amended to take out “restrictive economic provisions that impede the inflow of funds and investments crucial to enable us to recover” from the adverse effects of the pandemic.

“And if we want to better position the Philippines, Charter change must happen now because our economy is still a long way from full recovery,” he stressed.

The Charter reforms panel will start deliberating on pending legislative measures proposing amendments on January 13.

Garbin said the committee “will treat the proposed measures just like any other bill that is taken up in plenary – with fairness and transparency.”

“Just like other pieces of legislation passed within the chamber of Congress, it will go through the legislative process and will be voted upon nominally by each member of the House of Representatives,” he stressed.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has reportedly directed the Charter reform committee to zero in efforts at the economic provisions of the constitution.

Under Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 2 authored by Speaker Velasco, the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” will be added to the restrictions set by the Constitution on ownership of franchises and public utilities.

A similar resolution was proposed during the 16th Congress by then Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

“By inserting the phrase ‘unless otherwise provided by law’, mabibigyan ang Kongreso ng leeway (Congress will be given a leeway) so that we can enact a responsive legislation in order to meet the economic conditions of the time,” Garbin stated.

The committee hopes to finish deliberations before Christmas of 2021, and to schedule the plebiscite in time for the 2022 national elections, the party-list solon said.

Garbin also moved to allay concerns that Congress will touch on the political provisions in the Constitution, particularly term limits or term extension.

He added: “In the process, we need to develop public trust and confidence.”