Senate to tackle economic Cha-cha next week

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (Senate PRIB / Bibo Nueva España)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate discussions on economic Charter change will officially begin next week, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced Wednesday.

Zubiri said this would still be made possible through Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which he filed on January 15.

“Today, we are gonna create the subcommittee, wherein Senator [Sonny] Angara will head, with the permission, of course, of Senator [Robinhood]Padilla. Tapos by next week mag-uumpisa na po sya sa mga hearing doon sa RBH 6 so everything is taking its course,” said Zubiri.

(Then, by next week, he will start the hearings on RBH 6, so everything is taking its course.)

During the Senates’s Wednesday plenary session, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva moved for the creation of the said subcommittee. 

Meanwhile, in a text message to reporters, Angara said discussions on RBH 6 will be limited to the contents of the measure. 

“We will invite a wide sector of society and the political spectrum to ensure healthy discussion and debate. No discussion of political amendments,” he said. 

Angara’s office likewise disclosed that the hearing on economic Cha-cha is now scheduled on Monday, February 5.

Zubiri earlier disclosed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself instructed the Senate to pass the final version of RBH No. 6, and the House of Representatives will only adopt the measure’s Senate version.

The resolution seeks to amend limited economic provisions of the Constitution, specifically public services, education, and advertising.

It was filed in light of a signature campaign for Charter change.

According to Zubiri, Marcos made it clear that Charter change through people’s initiative was too divisive.