The House of Representatives is now just one step away from completing its Charter change (Cha-cha) mission in the current 19th Congress.
This, after the 314--strong lower chamber approved on second reading on Tuesday night, March 7 House Bill (HB) No.7352, or the proposed Act implementing Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6, as amended, during plenary session.
Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, who presided over the session, announced the bill’s second-reading passage after a simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes). The ayes drowned out the nayes.
With this development, the House members could have the measure approved on third and final reading next week.
The prospective third-reading passage of HB No.7352 will represent the completion of Cha-cha's journey in the House, as the congressmen will have dispatched with all measures connected to revising the 1987 Constitution.
Under RBH No.6, a constitutional convention (con-con)--to be composed of 314 elected and appointed delegates--will be formed and tasked to introduce possible amendments to the Constitution.
This measure was approved on third and final reading by the House on Monday night, March 6. The official nominal voting result was 301-6-1 (yes-no-abstain).
Partner bill
HB No.7352--its partner bill--was first sponsored on the plenary floor last Wednesday, March 1. It was subjected to debates by anti-Cha-cha solons for only three days--March 1, 6, and 7.
House Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairman and Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was the one who sponsored and defended HB No.7352.
Availing of the period of debates to challenge the majority's planned con-con--and the bid to revise the 36-year-old Charter in general--were Makabayan solons ACT Teachers Party-list Rep . France Castro, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel; Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado; and independent minority solon Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman.
The proposed con-con will be hybrid in nature: 251 delegates will be elected, while 63 will be appointed. The election of delegates will take place on Oct. 30, 2023.
The delegates will be "employed" for a period of at least six months, during which they are expected to propose revisions to the Constitution. These suggested revisions will be subject to a plebiscite.
House Speaker and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has said that the Cha-cha efforts would be focused on amending the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution. However, Rodriguez said last week that the con-con, once convened, cannot be stopped from proposing whatever kind of amendments they want.
Meanwhile, the Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI), one of the biggest blocs in the House, has expressed its full backing to the Cha-cha efforts, particularly on revising the restrictive economic provisions.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, PCFI spokesperson, said doing so will help the Philippines attract more foreign investment and generate more income to fund pro-poor programs of the government.
“The affirms its strong support in favor of the No. 6, which calls on Congress to convene a constitutional convention to propose Charter amendments,” the PCFI said.
The coalition is composed of 57 party-list solons led by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co.