Senate not ‘receptive’ to Cha-cha, says Nancy Binay

Sen. Nancy Binay. Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is showing little to no enthusiasm for a new attempt to amend the 1987 Constitution, Senator Nancy Binay revealed during informal talks with her colleagues on Friday.

Senator Robin Padilla recently filed Resolution of Both Houses No.3 to the Senate, which looks to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution through a constituent assembly. However, it appears that the Senate does not favor this proposal, as indicated by Binay’s statement.

“So far sa mga informal talks namin parang hindi ganun ka receptive yung Senate,” she said in an interview with reporters.

(So far, the Senate is not receptive to our formal talks.)

“Unang-una, di ba ang parang ang daming kailangang baguhin, ang daming mas dapat bigyan ng priority like itong problema natin  sa inflation, and then yung potential global recession,” Binay added.

(Inflation and a worldwide recession are more pressing issues.)

She emphasized that the economic changes proposed in the measure may already be up to date with laws such as the Public Service Act (PSA) and Trade Liberalization Act, designed to attract more national investors.

“I think yung ginawa na naming amendment sa PSA is already  sufficient to encourage foreign investors,” she said.

(I think our amendments to PSA are already  sufficient to encourage foreign investors.)

She said it is still up to the appropriate committee to decide on the measure.

But whether or not it would move forward in the chamber is another question, the senator pointed out.

“But you know at the moment mas gusto naming bigyang priority nga yug how to solve  yung problem natin sa yung  food security , yun yung I think number one concern ngayon,” she said.

(But you know, at the moment, we’d like to give priority to how to solve our problem of food security, I think that’s the number one concern now.)

When asked if the measure could be considered as “good as dead” as other lawmakers would say in the past, Binay said: “Parang.”

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Senator Grace Poe were also cold to the Charter change revival in the upper chamber.

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JPV/abc