Rep. Garbin: Senate has enough time to tackle ‘economic Cha-cha’

Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. (Photo from the Facebook account of Ako Bicol)

MANILA, Philippines — With the ball now in the Senate, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said Wednesday that the upper chamber has “enough” time to tackle the proposed economic Charter change (Cha-cha).

Garbin, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, made the remark after the House of Representatives adopted Resolution of Both Houses No. 2, which seeks to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the 34-year-old Constitution.

“Of course, they cannot tackle it this week because we are due to adjourn this week but they have all the time–in fact, enough time–sapat ang oras na talakayin nila ito sa Senado pag-resume, pag-open ng third regular session [They have ample time to tackle this when the Senate resumes, when the third regular session],” Garbin said during the Ugnayan sa Batasan forum.

“Pinaliwanag ni Speaker kay Senate President [Vicente Sotto III] na hindi kailangang madaliin [no need to be in haste]. In fact, they have from August until February to debate on it and approve it upang ito ay maaprubahan ng [so this can be approved by] both houses of Congress and call for a plebiscite for the ratification of the economic Charter change,” the lawmaker added.

The lower house adopted Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 2 on Tuesday with 251 affirmative votes, 21 negative votes, and two abstentions. The resolution was passed with the needed 3/4 vote of the entire House.

Garbin earlier said that the Senate should give the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution a chance and allow the public to decide on whether or not they will be adopted.

Under RBH No. 2, the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” would be added to the constitutional restrictions that limit foreign investors’ participation in the governing body of entities based on their proportionate share of the capital.

The same language would also be added to laws stating that only Filipino people have the right to control, own, and/or lease public utilities, educational institutions, mass media enterprises, and advertising firms in the country.

Legislators could use this to facilitate foreign participation in the Philippines.

JPV