Padilla urges Senate leaders to immediately tackle Cha-cha with House

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla urged Senate leaders on Wednesday to immediately tackle proposals amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution with their counterparts in the House of Representatives.

Padilla, chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, convened eight public hearings on the proposed changes in the Charter’s economic provisions.

He sent letters to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. He called for a “collaborative effort” to discuss the preferred mode of Charter change (Cha-cha).

“With the foregoing, I sincerely hope that the leadership of our beloved institution, led by your representation, will forge ahead and make a move to respond to the suggestion of the House of Representatives to sit together and deliberate on the matter, ultimately, for the benefit of our countrymen,” Padilla stated in his letter.

“I encourage, and appeal for our collaborative effort towards a common goal of achieving a more vibrant, and dynamic economy for our people,” he added.

Padilla is rallying to ease the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution through a constituent assembly.

READ: Padilla assures Cha-cha will only cover economic provisions, not political

Some senators, however, said that changing the economic provisions of the Charter is not timely.

The House of Representatives earlier approved the enabling bill of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which called for creating a hybrid constitutional convention for Cha-cha.

READ: House panel approves enabling bill to charter change measure

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