Zubiri measure seeks to amend economic provisions, avert crisis
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday filed a Resolution of Both Houses to amend specific economic provisions of the Constitution, saying this would avert a constitutional crisis between the two chambers of Congress over Charter change.
Zubiri described his resolution as “very simple and clear.”
“There are only three topics here… So, we will do this so that we can preserve bicameralism,” he said after filing the resolution.
Zubiri said they will do this to make it clear that there are no other planned provisions or amendments, and that the changes will all be purely economic in nature.
He appealed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez to take the same action.
Romualdez later welcomed the Senate action to review the 1987 Constitution, expressing his “unwavering support” for the initiative (see related story on A1 – Editors).
Zubiri also said President Marcos believes the proposed amendments in the people’s initiative — the third mode under the Constitution to effect Charter change — were “too divisive.”
In a press conference, Zubiri said he and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda met with Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Jan. 11 before the Vin d’Honneur last week to raise concerns on the proposed amendments contained in the people’s initiative.
“The President agreed with us that the proposal was too divisive and asked the Senate to instead take the lead in reviewing the economic provisions of the Constitution. In this way, we can preserve our bicameral nature of legislation,” he said.
Zubiri said RBH No. 6 is expected to be taken up by the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, which will be headed by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara.
He also urged Senator Robin Padilla, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, not to be offended by the sudden operation of the subcommittee for the purpose.
After his efforts to amend economic provisions fell through, Padilla renewed moves for Charter change, this time involving the Constitution’s political provisions, a controversial step that could remove term limits.
Zubiri said he hopes the Senate can adopt RBH 6 before the next congressional recess.
He said RBH 6 only needs 18 affirmative votes both in the subcommittee and plenary levels, to be formally adopted.
The other authors of RBH 6 are Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Angara.
RBH 6 seeks amendments particularly on Articles XII, XIV and XVI.
Article XII deals with the country’s “National Economy and Patrimony”; Article XIV is about “Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports” and Article XVI deals with “General Provisions.”
Each of these articles will include the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” – opening the door to amendments through legislation.
Zubiri’s resolution said the nation’s economic policy must be re-framed under the demands of an increasingly globalized age while still protecting the general policy of “Filipino first.”
Also on Monday, the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) said wage increases and price controls are more urgent than Charter change, as it questioned the timeliness of efforts to amend the Constitution.
“Charter change should be the least of our lawmakers’ concerns. The government must focus its resources and time in addressing gut issues of workers such as low wages, high prices of basic commodities, and widespread job insecurity,” said Rochelle Porras, EILER executive director.