Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that amending the 1987 Constitution will not be a priority of the Senate.
In his first speech as Senate President during the opening of the third regular session of the 19th Congress, Escudero mentioned that pending bills on Charter change (Cha-cha) will be set aside to give way to more important measures that genuinely enhance the lives of Filipinos.
Escudero underscored the need to focus on legislation that directly benefits the public and avoid measures that cause unnecessary division and political discord.
“In this final regular session of the 19th Congress, following Quezon’s advice, we will set aside items which merely dissipate our energy and divide the public,” Escudero said, referring to the late President Manuel L. Quezon, who served as the country’s first Senate President more than a century ago.
He confirmed that Cha-cha proposals would be placed "on the back burner" and follow the standard legislative process if considered.
“In its stead, bills which can effect the same result— but without the needless political noise and bickering — will be prioritized. This will allow us to focus our energy on measures which the people truly need,” he added.
Escudero said senators will focus on the common legislative agenda forged with the executive branch and the House of Representatives, pointing out that “legislation is not a one-way process.”
“We are not mere processors of proposals, but also proponents of them. And the Senate is best, as we know it, when it incubates brave ideas and initiates bold legislation,” he explained.
Escudero introduced a three-way test for prioritizing bills to ensure legislative effectiveness: “Will it make the lives of our people easier? Will it help us move faster? Will it make our people’s burdens lighter?”
“This applies as well in deciding whether we need to legislate in the first place,” he said. “For the Senate does not only propose new laws, it also disposes with needless or obsolete ones,” he added.
In a press conference, he said that the bills would be referred to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Senator Robin Padilla.
"It’s not a priority for me and since it was not mentioned in the LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) I don’t think it’s a priority of the LEDAC or the executive either," he added.