Villanueva: Will Cha-cha solve PH woes?

Senator Joel Villanueva. PHOTO FROM JOEL VILLANUEVA FACEBOOK PAGE

Amid a clash in Congress on how to effect Charter change (Cha-cha), Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday expressed doubt whether amending the Constitution would fix the country’s pressing problems.

His statement comes after the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes held its third hearing on resolutions on changing the Constitution.

“As a legislator, I would like to know what problems a Constitutional amendment is trying to resolve. I think we should have a national consensus on what these issues and principles are. Are these problems unsolvable without Charter Change or federalism?” Villanueva said in a statement.

Villanueva pointed out that proponents of Cha-cha, whether through a constituent assembly (con-ass) or a Constitutional convention (Con-con), claim that Cha-cha would “bring forth lasting solution to poverty and economic inequality, and provide an effective mechanism to empower local governments by increasing their resources through distribution of wealth.”

But Villanueva said he believed that Cha-cha “might not be the be-all and end-all solution to the problems that its proponents vow to resolve.”

While the senator clarified that he remained open to Charter change, he said the country’s problems could be solved by enacting laws without changing the Constitution.

“I’m open to Cha-Cha because our Constitution is not perfect but I think the current limitations of the fundamental law can be addressed through legislation,” Villanueva said in a separate social media post.

Lawmakers are currently debating whether Constitutional amendment should be through a Con-con, where changes would be proposed by representatives elected by the people, or through a con-ass to be composed of sitting legislators. /cbb