Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco sees the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution “finished” in the lower chamber by May 2021.
“I have to talk to [constitutional amendments committee] Chairman Pido Garbin first but actually I see finishing the charter change before the end of May… finish in the House,” Velasco told reporters after the physical flag-raising ceremony at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City when asked about the possible timeline for Cha-cha.
Velasco also said he does not believe that cha-cha is “dead in the water” contrary to what critics are claiming.
“I think the fear kasi ng mga tao is when we pursue charter change, ang palaging nasa isip ng ating mga kababayan at ibang mga leaders po natin na nagsisingit tayo ng mga bagay bagay na makapagbibigay advantage doon sa ating mga political leaders,” Velasco said.
(I think the public’s fear is that if we pursue charter change, political leaders might include provisions for their own advantage.)
“But at the end of the day po, ang tinitingnan talaga natin dito ay mabago po natin ang Konstitusyon para mabuksan ang bansa sa mga foreign investors,” the House Speaker added.
(But at the end of the day, we are only looking at amending the Constitution so we can open up the country for foreign investors.)
Velasco said he has talked to Senate President Vicente Sotto III but the details of Cha-cha has yet to be discussed.
“Hindi pa kailangan i-rush ngayon because we still have a year to do it. We’ll just try to hear out all the members who have questions regarding the cha-cha para mabigyan lahat ng pagkakataon na makapagtanong,” Velasco said.
(We don’t need to rush it now because we still have a year to do it. We’ll just try to hear out all the members who have questions regarding the cha-cha so everyone is given a chance to ask.)
Garbin earlier said that the House is eyeing to vote on the resolution proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution on or before March 24, the last session day before the Holy Week break.
Resolution of Both Houses No. 2, which proposes the economic provisions to the charter, was filed by Velasco.