MANILA, Philippines – Congress will continue its efforts to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution despite the reluctance of President Aquino to pursue Charter change, leaders of the House of Representatives said yesterday.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales in separate interviews said they believe Aquino is keeping an open mind when it comes to reforms that could generate jobs and spur investments in the country.
“What the President said (Charter change is not his priority) was definitely important. But we have a terrific opportunity now because we have a President who cannot be suspected of a political angle or self-serving political agenda,” Belmonte told a news briefing.
“For me, it’s the best time to do it (amending the Constitution),” he said.
He said the question is not whether Congress can undertake Charter change but whether it is needed.
“That’s why we still have to have hearings and gather empirical evidence on this,” Belmonte said.
He cited the concerns of the government and business communities regarding the restrictive economic provisions as among the impediments to investments, aside from lack of infrastructure and high power rates.
“So it behoves us to study it once and for all,” Belmonte said.
Gonzales said lawmakers are not defying Aquino in pursuing Charter change, since implementing constitutional reforms are part of the functions of Congress,
“It (Congress) is not defiant because after all, we have a common share in policy directions of the government. The House of Representatives and the Senate are part of policy making. So while the President also gives policy directions, it is not uncommon that the House of Representatives has its own set of suggested policies and the Senate has its own suggested policies,” he told reporters.
“At the end of the day, it is the House of Representatives and the Senate that are empowered to do any constitutional change,” he added.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the House committee on higher and technical education, said Congress cannot be prevented from performing its legislative duties, including Charter change.
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By: Paolo Romero
Source: The Philippine Star, Oct. 5, 2011
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