Despite its preoccupation with the economic Charter change, the House of Representatives will continue to flex its muscles to pass measures that would help the economy recover from COVID-19 pandemic.
The assurance was made by House Constitutional Amendments panel Chair AKO BICOL partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. after some business groups expressed strong opposition to the efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution “at this time” and stressed that Congress should prioritize passing economic recovery measures.
He explained that even if Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 reaches the plenary by first week of February, the other standing committees of the House of Representatives will "continue doing their primary jurisdiction tackling measures pending before their committee.“
"I am just one committee whose primary jurisdiction is to push for meaningful constitutional reforms, but the Committee on Heath, the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Public Order and Safety and other standing committees will do their work,” Garbin said.
He even noted that the House of Representatives already did its part in passing measures that would strengthen the country’s economic foooting. These include the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) and the Public Service Act Amendments.
“'Yung notion na madi-divide ang Congress, hindi totoo ‘yun (The notion that the Congress will be divided was not true). We were able to perform, and pass those measures needed by the present conditions in terms of contributing to the solutions to the problems to economy and heath.”
In a statement issued on Monday, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) said instead of devoting its time and the country’s meager resources to a "highly controversial and divisive issue”, Congress should "tackle the legislative initiatives on the economy at the earliest possible time.”
Garbin confirmed that his panel will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 26 deliberations on RBH No. 2, which specifically aims to revise certain economic provisions of the 34-year old Constitution, particularly Articles XII (National Patrimony and Economy), XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports) and XVI (General Provisions).
He said among those invited to attend the hearing are Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas, professor of the University of Asia and the Pacific, and one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution; Atty. Anthony A. Abad, lecturer on International Trade Law of the Ateneo de Manila School of Law; John D. Forbes, representative of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines; Daisy S. Arago, executive director of the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights; (CTUHR); Cielito V. Perez, executive director of the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR); and Atty. Robert Nomar V. Leyretana, administrator of the Land Registration Authority (LRA).
He said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III might also join the hearing.
The House leader said they need at least two hearings to come up with a committee report and by "first week of February, we can debate it on the plenary for second reading.”
He said Velasco’s resolution will be treated as “ordinary legislation, except that the vote is more stringent because it requires three fourths vote of members voting separately.”
Garbin maintained that this is the right time to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.
“It is always the right time to do the right thing. This is the right thing to do, to prepare our economy, our policy that we are open that while we are in economic recovery, we want to send signal to the business immunity that we are open and that restrictive policy will be lifted.”
“We want to be proactive in promoting our investment so that we are not lagging behind our neighbours...I was told that the secret of getting ahead is get ready, so we want to ready the business climate while we are recovering from this pandemic.”