House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

For the first time in plenary, House Speaker Martin Romualdez laid out the plan to revisit discussions on Charter change (Cha-cha) in 2024, with the country's economic advancement being the primary motivation. 

"Next year, after our Yuletide break, we will focus our attention on studying and reviewing proposals that deal with restrictions blocking the entry of foreign capital and investments in the Philippines," Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House, said in a statement Wednesday night, Dec. 13. 

"These include deliberation on all proposed measures related to Constitutional change," he noted. 

Wednesday coincided with the last plenary session day of the year. House members won't convene again until Jan. 22, 2024. 

"This Congress will champion the cause of revisiting our present Constitution. A cause that is key to unlocking the vast potential of our Philippine economy," said Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party. 

"Gagawin nating lahat para buksan ang ating ekonomiya sa pubunan. Pag-aaralan natin ang lahat ng paraan kung paano makikinabang ang ordinaryong tao sa pag-amyenda ng Konstitusyon," he said. 

(We will do everything in order to open up our economy to investments. We will study all the options on how the ordinary people can benefit from amending the Constitution.) 

Reports reaching the Manila Bulletin have revealed that top House leaders have held caucuses on the planned Cha-cha revisit. The feedback from these meetings have been overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal. 

CLICK HERE: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/12/cha-cha-ain-t-dead-house-to-revive-talks-on-constitutional-revision-in-2024-says-romualdez

At the beginning of the year, the House pursued--and approved--measures to use the Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) method in the bid to amend the 1987 Constitution. 

One of them is Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, titled "Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) calling for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution, appropriating funds therefor".  

The other is House Bill (HB) No. 7352, also known as "An Act implementing Resolution of Both Houses No.6 of the Congress of the Philippines calling for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes".  

The Senate--the other legislative chamber in the bicameral Congress--has yet to act on the measures.