Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin penned a Charter change (Cha-cha) measure knowing full well that he would be panned.

Yet he still filed it as Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.1 in the nascent 20th Congress.

“I filed RBH-1 knowing full well that it would spark criticism. But I proceeded, because when outdated laws hinder our nation’s progress, it becomes not just a legal step—but a moral obligation,” Garbin, a lawyer, said in a recent statement.

Amending the 1987 Constitution--already a dinosaur to some--has long been a pipe dream for House of Representatives members in particular. However, it always ended up "dead" at the Senate.

In the previous 19th Congress and amid positive signals from Malacañang, the House passed Cha-cha measure limited only to amending the economic provisions of the Constitution.

Garbin, through RBH No.1, has basically filed the same economic Cha-cha measure, with one significant addition: territorial revisions.

Specifically, he proposed to tweak the territorial provision of the Charter, to enshrine in it the country’s arbitral case victory against China on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, among others.

Painting to the recurring concerns of the public whenever Cha-cha is pursued in Congress, Garbin clarified that RBH No.1 does not seek to change the form of government, extend term limits, or alter political structures.

Instead, the resolution targets provisions that have long discouraged foreign investment, hindered global partnerships, and stifled national development.

“This is not a political maneuver. It is a focused, calibrated move to lift legal barriers that have long stood in the way of economic prosperity,” said the lawyer-legislator.

Garbin added that the proposal respects the democratic process, as all amendments will ultimately be subject to a national plebiscite, allowing the Filipino people to decide on the matter.

“Let’s not fear democratic discourse. If you oppose the amendments, campaign against them. That’s your right. But let us not resort to fearmongering or misinformation,” said the returning solon in the 20th Congress.

Garbin’s call comes at a time when many sectors are demanding economic revitalization and stronger geopolitical footing, especially amid challenges i asserting Philippine sovereignty over strategic territories.

“If the time to act is now, then we must not delay what is necessary for the country to rise,” he said.