HOUSE members on Monday encouraged their counterparts in the Senate to expeditiously address the issues hindering the voting of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, stressing that another failure of the Senate to support economic Charter change will deprive the country of golden opportunities that can positively impact on the lives of the people.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairperson and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, as well as Assistant Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Pablo Ortega made the call during Monday’s press briefing.
Suarez said House members remain hopeful that the Senate will be able to address all the hindrances when it comes to voting for RBH 6, which pushes for economic Charter change similar to Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 filed in the House.
“We’re hopeful that the Senate would move with haste, understanding the urgency of the situation. Pakiusap po namin at paalala sa ating mga senador, sana matapos na po natin ito sa madaling panahon. Hindi naman sa minamadali namin, kailangan lang nila ma-realize na baka kulangin tayo sa oras at hindi din naman namin minamadali. Kasi nakikita niyo naman umaabot ng hanggang 11:00 ng gabi yung deliberasyon po natin dito (sa RBH 7), not to mention we’ve already had this discussion last year and did the roadshow with RBH 6 which we submitted to the Senate,” Suarez explained.
Suarez noted how voting can be done more easily in the Senate than at the House of Representatives, given the difference in the number of members.
“Bente kuwatro lang sila dapat nga mas mahirap dito sa amin kasi 315 congressmen kami, kaso lang nakikita naman po ninyo yung pagkakaisa at direksyon. Siguro sumasalamin po ito sa liderato ng Speaker po namin pagdating sa pagtahak ng mga batas at resolusyon na kinakailangan ng ating bansa,” he said.
Roman appealed to senators to take advantage of the opportunity offered by economic Cha-cha to fulfill everyone’s long-time dream of progress for the country.
“Pakiusap lang po, meron tayong golden opportunity. We’ve been talking and talking about these many Congresses ago, ang tagal-tagal na and ito lagi ang problema. Kami dito sa HOR laging dito galing ang initiative, precisely because we are in direct touch with the people. Maybe it’s time for our friends in the Senate na patunayan na this is a different batch of senators. (That this is) A batch of senators that can actually put in their hearts the real interest of the people. Trust us, we are just talking about the economic provisions. We are not going to inject anything political into this. Huwag nating sayangin itong golden opportunity na ito,” Roman said.
Khonghun took note how discussions on constitutional amendments have gone on for so long.
“Napapagod na rin yung ating mga kababayan na matagal na nilang hinihingi na magkaroon ng pagbabago. Tapos hindi natin mai-provide. So ayaw nating mangyari yun. Gusto natin na sa tulong ng Senado ay magkaroon ng pagbabago lalong-lalo na sa ating batas,” Khonghun said.
Ortega noted the big difference in the reception of political and economic Charter changes in Congress.
“Nakikita po natin yung difference talaga. Napapansin ko pag political cha-cha, parang isang maikling hakbang tapos dalawang paatras. Pero pag economic cha-cha ang pinag-uusapan natin, usad lang ng usad. So siguro, it is time we start on focusing on, sabi nga ni Cong. Geraldine dati, move on, move on na tayo di ba. So kailangan umusad ng umusad kasi we’re not even talking about politics. We’re not talking about anything political. So, I think political cha-cha is out of the question. It’s moving towards a backward direction, and economic cha-cha which we are advocating in the House, is making strides moving forward and reaching our goal in the HRep,” Ortega said.
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