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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House, Senate urged to use Holy Week break to plan what's next for Cha-cha

House, Senate urged to use Holy Week break to plan what's next for Cha-cha

Published Mar 18, 2024 06:32 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Speaker and Quezon City 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-Jay" Suarez has appealed to the House of Representatives and the Senate to spend the upcoming Holy Week recess wisely by crafting the next steps of the proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
  • Congress is set to go on break on March 22. It will resume sessions on April 29.

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Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez (Screenshot from YouTube live)

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon City 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-Jay” Suarez has appealed to the House of Representatives and the Senate to spend the upcoming Holy Week recess wisely by crafting the next steps of the proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

“Itong pagkakataon na makakapagpahinga sa palagay ko maganda ring pagkakataon na makapag-usap din yung Senado at yung Kongreso para malaman na talaga yung susunod na hakbang sa lifting ng restrictions sa Constitution,” Suarez said in a press conference on Monday, March 18.

(I think this opportunity to rest is also a good opportunity for the Senate and House to discuss and determine the next steps in lifting the restrictions in the Constitution.)

“Maganda na ma-maximize natin yung (It's great if we maximize the) Holy Week break. We can do some self-reflection, we can pray for enlightenment, we can hope for discernment so that we can meet kasi talagang importante na importante ito para sa ating bansa (because this is really important for our country),” he added.

Suarez gave this remark after ranking lawmakers gave conflicting statements on the subsequent step that must be taken after the expected passage of Resolution on Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 on Wednesday, March 20.

He explained that with the ambiguity present in the Constitution, both chambers of Congress should meet first to deliberate on the appropriate action.

“We will be going on a break. And I look forward to the opportunity that both leaders of the House and the Senate can meet and finally decide on the proper course of action with regards to both RBH,” noted Suarez.

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading its pro-Charter change (Cha-cha) measure RBH No. 7. On the other hand, the Senate’s RBH No. 6 is still at the subcommittee level.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez spearheads the lower chamber, while the upper chamber is led by Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

Whatever the outcome of this potential meeting, Suarez said that the plebiscite would still be the ultimately decider in the proposed economic Cha-cha.

“It’s important for us to allow the Filipino people to decide on the proposed amendments,” he stressed.

Congress is set to go on break on March 22.It will resume sessions on April 29.

Related Tags

Senate of the Philippines Charter change House of Representatives david Jay-jay suarez
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