Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa supports the resolution of Senator Robinhood Padilla calling for the amendments of the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution through the Constituent Assembly (Con-ass) mode.

‘’Sabi nga nila madugo, medyo malaking proseso at malaking gastos (They say it is a big and costly process). Tignan natin if it can gain enough traction from our lawmakers (Let’s see if it can can enough traction from our lawmakers),’’ Dela Rosa said during a DWIZ radio interview Saturday, Feb. 11.

Dela Rosa recalled that he and Senator Francis ‘’Tol" Tolentino has also sought revisions to the economic provisions of the Charter, but this languished in the committee level in the last Congress.

In the event there would be a con-ass to amend the Constitution, Dela Rosa said the voting by the 24-man Senate and the 300-member House of Representative should be done separately.

To make the amendment process simple, other kinds of amendments such as the political provisions should not be opened, he pointed out.

Dela Rosa also objected to positions of a few senators that the Senate should focus on poverty, unemployment, and inflation instead of amending the Constitution.

‘’In the past years we have passed many laws marami na po (there are many), lets see whether we need legislation or amendments in the Constitution,’’ Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda said on the same radio program.

Legarda said opening up the Constitution ‘’is sensitive issue for many people".

Senator Grace Poe objected to the Padilla resolution, saying Congress had passed major legislations that clarified the economic provisions of the Constitution.

These, according to Poe, are the Public Service Act and the Trade Liberalization Act.

Poe said these were meant to encourage move investments, employment and economic growth.

Padilla has taken the first major step towards amending the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution so the economy could better respond to the needs of the times.

In Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 3, Padilla proposed changes to the Charter via con-ass with both Houses of Congress - the Senate and House of Representatives - voting separately.

"To accelerate economic growth, and fulfill its international commitment, the Philippines must amend its Constitution by removing these restrictive economic provisions to allow foreign businesses to directly invest in a more conducive landscape," he said.

Padilla is chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.