The Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes is planning to bring the discussions on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which seeks amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, to different locations in Visayas and Mindanao. 

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri disclosed this after Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva took the floor to air his grievances against Rep. Zaldy Co, House Committee on Appropriations chief, who criticized him and other senators regarding their negative stance on the proposed Charter change through People’s Initiative (PI). 

“I think it would also be good to go out of town for our public hearings. We should have one in the Visayas, we should have one in Mindanao, para mapakinggan din natin…yung sentimyento ng mga taga-Mindanao, yung sentimyento ng mga taga-Visayas (So we can listen to the sentiments of those in Mindanao, the sentiments of those in the Visayas),” Zubiri said during the Senate’s plenary session.

“Para sa ganun ay well-informed ang decision natin (so that we can come up with a well-informed decision), when the time comes,” the Senate chief further said.

In an ambush interview after the second hearing of the panel on RBH No. 6, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara confirmed the Senate’s plan to bring the discussions on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution to places in Visayas and Mindanao. 

According to Angara, the part of their plan is to hold dialogues in Cebu City, Iloilo City or Bacolod. 

The panel may also conduct dialogues in Cagayan de Oro where House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairman Rep. Rufus Rodriguez resides. 

“I will have to consult the senators. Magtanong muna tayo kasi sayang naman kung pupunta tayo tapos ako lang tsaka yung resource persons (We will ask first because it would be a waste if we’re the only ones going and the resource persons ),” Angara told reporters in an interview.

Nevertheless, Angara said this is not the first time that the Senate will conduct discussions on Charter change with the general public and bringing it to other regions. 

“Sa akin, maganda ito para sa ating mga kababayan dahil maririnig nila ang mga argumento, makakapag-isip din sila at sana, magdebate rin sila among themselves kung ano ang tama (For me, this would be good for our people because they will hear our arguments, they can also think and hope they can also debate among themselves on what is right),” Angara said.

“Ang  pakay natin dito, may collective na dialogue tayo (Our goal here is to have a collective dialogue) within the whole country. Whether there’s a series of several debates, at least pinag-uusapan natin. At naririnig natin yung boses ng ating mga kababayan (we have already talked about it. and we are able to hear the voices of our people),” the lawmaker stressed.