Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed confidence Friday that the Senate would approve proposed amendments to the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions.
“I believe in the leadership of the Senate, especially Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri that he can handle everything, and he can convince all his colleagues in the Senate,” Romualdez told reporters at the sidelines of the groundbreaking of the Philippine Cancer Center in Quezon City yesterday.
“We understand the challenges, but the Senate has always lived up to the challenge. We do have good senators and I know that they know what is good for our people,” he added.
The Lower Chamber is set to approve Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 on second reading next week and on third and final reading before the Holy Week break.
RBH No. 7 is identical to the Senate’s RBH No. 6 except for the manner of voting by Congress and which seeks to amend three restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
The proposed House and Senate changes were on the grant of legislative franchises to and ownership of public utilities in Article 12, and ownership of basic educational facilities in Article 14, and advertising firms in Article 16.
RBH No. 6 is pushing for a separate vote of both chambers of Congress in approving the amendments.
Zubiri earlier said getting the needed 18 votes in the Senate for the economic amendment proposals “is a big challenge” but “it’s not impossible.”
The Senate leader earlier said he and his colleagues would approve the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution before the Holy Week break, but the timeline has since been moved to October.
Asked if President Marcos has new instructions on economic Charter change proposals, Romualdez said: “The push for economic Charter Change will continue.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Romualdez confident Senate will approve economic Charter amendments.”