The House of Representatives committee on constitutional amendments has pledged a series of hearings beginning January next year on measures proposing to amend the 1987 Constitution.
“We will start our hearings shortly after we resume sessions on Jan. 23. So, we start on Jan. 26 (Thursday) and every other week thereafter,” panel chairman Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City told legislators and the media on Wednesday.
“Anyway, this (charter change discussions) has been passed thoroughly in the past seven Congresses. Our people should not worry at all because this would not be rushed,” the senior administration legislator from Mindanao assured.
The constitutional amendments committee on Wednesday began its initial deliberations on bills and resolutions filed to effect Charter Change.
Lawmakers backed the decision of the Rodriguez panel to hold marathon hearings to determine the fate on whether the proposed “Cha-cha” measure will fly at this time.
“We should hold a marathon hearing on this as early as possible. We ought to fast-track this because if we wait for another year or so, the people will not believe us anymore. We need this, the 1987 Constitution needs to be changed,” Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said.
Rodriguez, along with House Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, authored a bill allowing the President to enjoy re-election to a second five-year term. The Constitution currently limits the Chief Executive to one six-year term.
Rodriguez said resource persons, or legal experts, should also be invited to the panel once the hearings have started.
He wants Charter Change via constitutional convention mode, saying such will not be expensive since this will “coincide” with the October 2023 barangay elections.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte also appealed to his fellow legislators to prioritize Charter Change.
“With constitutional reforms seemingly gaining traction in the House, we are appealing to the chamber’s leadership to add to the list of priority bills for priority action the proposals for Con-Con delegates,” he said.
Villafuerte also wants these delegates “elected in next year’s balloting (or the October 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections), to write proposed changes to the 1987 Charter.”
He described the fundamental law of the land as “antiquated and apt” that “has long been crying out for reforms.”
The solon also views it as having too much “inward-looking and overly protective provisions on the economy.”