Senator Sonny Angara says the government will save billions of pesos if the Charter change (Cha-cha) plebiscite coincides with the 2025 midterm polls. (File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — For Senator Sonny Angara, it would be best for the government to make the timeline for the passage of amendments to the 1987 Constitution go along with the schedule for the 2025 national elections.
According to Angara, making the plebiscite on constitutional amendments coincide with the 2025 polls could save the government a considerable amount of funds.
“My goal is, although the Constitution also sets the timeline, you must set the plebiscite 60 to 90 days after it’s passed by Congress… We have to reconcile that timeline of having the plebiscite along with the 2025 elections because a plebiscite is costly),” Angara said, speaking partly in Filipino, in a radio interview, as quoted in a statement released by his office on Tuesday.
READ: Angara sees Oct deadline for Charter change debates
Angara on Monday led the subcommittee hearing on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which seeks to amend economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution covering education, public utilities, and advertising.
“[The plebiscite] costs several billions of pesos,” the senator stressed.
“It is there legally, but we also have to be practical to save the people’s money. Maybe that’s better, but that’s just my personal opinion,” he added in Filipino, noting he would still consult his fellow senators about his proposed timeline for the constitutional amendments plebiscite.
READ: Zubiri on passage of RBH 6: Senate will not succumb to deadline pressure
During Monday’s hearing, Angara expressed hope that a few months after the October filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections, both the Senate and House would have agreed on revisions to economic provisions of the Charter.
In the same hearing, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the upper chamber will not succumb to the pressure of any deadline as amendments to the 1987 Constitution must be studied well.