Senate to review proposals to amend Constitution’s economic provisions

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is finally slated to review the proposals to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, adding that he himself has signed a resolution for this initiative.

Zubiri disclosed this in a press conference on Monday, revealing that this was in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive for the Senate to “take the lead in the discussions of the economic provisions” of the country’s highest law.

“We have prepared a resolution now signed by myself, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and Senator Sonny Angara — on the amendment of the economic provision of the Constitution,” Zubiri told reporters.

Zubiri said the majority of members of the Senate had asked Senator Sonny Angara to lead a subcommittee on the committee on constitutional amendments to tackle this particular issue.

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“We chose Senator Angara kasi kailangan talaga natin dito ay abogado. With due respect, hindi ko pa nakakausap si Senator Robin Padilla, he’s still abroad but when he comes back ay kakausapin po namin siya at nagre-request kami na kung pwede na para dito sa usaping ito ay we will ask a creation of a subcommittee for this purpose,” Zubiri added.

(We chose Senator Sonny Angara because we really need a lawyer here. With due respect, I have not talked to Senator Robin Padilla, he is still abroad but when he comes back we will talk to him and we are requesting that if it is possible for this matter we will ask for the creation of a subcommittee for this purpose.)

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Padilla, who chairs the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision codes, earlier filed a resolution to amend the political provisions of the Constitution, seeking longer terms for President, Vice President, and Senators, among others.

“Ang problema kasi sa aking kaibigan na si Sen. Padilla, he’s focused more on the political [provisions] eh. Pag ganon magkakagulo talaga dito. Hinid tayo uusad kasi kung change of government agad, wala na talagang pag-uusapan dito,”

(The problem is with my friend Sen. Padilla, he’s focused more on the political [provisions] eh. Then there will be a real mess here. We will not move forward because if there is a change of government immediately, there will be nothing to discuss here.)

While the date of the public hearings has yet to be finalized, Zubiri said the Senate may begin its inquiry on the issue in January.