Padilla backs Senate led-review of 1987 Charter: 'Good news' for the nation
By Dhel Nazario
Sen. Robinhood Padilla considers the newly filed Senate resolution that seeks to review some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution as "good news" for the nation.
In a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 16, Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes hopes that this will finally lead to national progress.
"Napakagandang balita po ito para sa Bayan. Magkakaroon na po ng bagong sigla ang ating ekonomiya tungo sa pag-unlad ng buhay ng mga Pilipino (This is good news for the nation. Our economy will be revitalized, and this will lead to progress in the lives of Filipinos)," said Padilla.
On Monday, Jan. 15, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that the Senate, as tasked by President Marcos, will take the lead in the discussions of the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
Padilla said he has long been pushing for reforms to the Constitution's economic provisions so that investments from abroad can come in and lead to jobs and other economic opportunities for Filipinos.
He added that the Senate's new effort to revisit the Charter shows he was on the right track when his committee filed a committee report on proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
In March 2023, Padilla issued a committee report citing the merits of seven economic amendments to the Charter, after conducting hearings on the matter in the provinces.
However, he said that no other senator signed the report then, and it was not tackled in plenary.
Meanwhile, Padilla has yet to comment on the creation of a subcommittee on constitutional amendments that will be led by Sen. Sonny Angara for the purpose of reviewing some economic provisions in the Charter.