
AMID countless accusations against the House of Representatives, House leaders from different political parties on Monday assured the Filipino people that the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution emanating from the House shall focus solely on its economic provisions.
Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe recounted that in March 2023, the House approved on third reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which calls for a constitutional convention to propose amendment to, or revision of, the economic provisions of the Philippine Constitution.
“Klarong klaro na economic provisions lang. Read first what we filed instead of trying to speculate. You can review all the records. Check what we have transmitted to [the Senate],” said Dalipe, countering claims that the proposed charter change intends to “perpetuate the administration in power.”
Dalipe underscored that it is not a secret that the House has been advocating to update the nearly 37-year old Constitution.
He added that the House pledges its full support whether the economic provisions of the Constitution would be amended through a people’s initiative or the Senate’s version of RBH 6, which calls for a Constituent Assembly.
Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairperson Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez cited that more than 350 House bills have already been filed since 1988. He explained that organizations from the business sector stressed the urgent need for such changes, noting that the Philippines is lagging behind its neighboring countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate.
The House leaders also welcomed the move of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to halt all proceedings on the people’s initiative, but remained firm in pushing for amendments to the economic provisions ultimately to create more job opportunities, increase corporate access to social programs, and spur development in various sectors.
Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan explained that the foreign investments that would enter the country could help augment the government’s budget, allowing more funding for social services.
Rodriguez insisted that there are no provisions in RBH 6 that attempt to abolish their counterparts.
“We have no plans to abolish the Senate. We need the Senate—a body for checks and balances,” he said.
Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit, also Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) president, remarked that many House members belong to the same political parties as the senators.