Dalipe on when House-proposed Cha-cha will be finalized: ‘We can’t say it’

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe file RBH No. 7, a resolution that copies the proposed amendments of Senate to the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions. (File photo by Gabriel P. Lalu/ INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers in House of Representatives cannot say when the proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution will be finalized.

Their admission comes, as the chamber starts hearing Resolution of Both Houses (RHB) 7, which seeks to change the Charter.

House Majority Leader and Zamboanga city 2nd District Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe said they do not really know when House will finish the deliberations on the resolution.

However, he said lawmakers can exert extra effort for this purpose.

“Well, I cannot say because we will be inviting resource persons, and we want to exhaustively discuss all of these matters,” Dalipe explained.

“So as to the timeline, we cannot say it. But we will try our best to really work double time on this,” he said.

“And if it needs that we have to extend our working hours in trying to hear everything, then we will do,” he added.

Dalipe’s remarks came during a press briefing after lawmakers filed RBH No. 7.

Initially, House leaders were insisting that Senate should stick with the original timetable given by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Zubiri had said its own version of Charter change, contained in RBH No. 6, will be adopted within March.

RBH No. 7 in House mimics RBH No. 6 in Senate.