MALAMIG ang pagtanggap ng apat na senador sa mga panukala sa mababang kapulungan ng Kongreso kaugnay sa pagbabago sa economic provisions sa Konstitusyon.

Ayon kay Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, halos wala na rin silang oras para talakayin pa ang panukala dahil mag-aadjourn ang sesyon sa June 4.

“I don’t think we have enough time as it is to take a quick look into the proposal. Anyway, the bills certified by the Palace as urgent have passed or are in advance stages in the Senate. We have 5 days to go before the sine die adjournment,” pahayag ni Sotto.

Sinabi naman ni Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon na may urgent bills nang tinatalakay sa Senado para palawakin ang invesment climate sa bansa nang hindi ginagalaw ang konstitusyon.

“Unless otherwise provided by law: The proposed Public Service Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and the Foreign Investments Act are already major laws bills designed to liberalize our investment climate without amending the Constitution. CREATE is now a law,” paliwanag ni Drilon.

“My reading is that the Senators are not inclined to support amendments to the Constitution at this time. It was not even in the agenda of the LEDAC meeting, which means it is not a priority legislation,” dagdag pa nito.

Para kay Senador Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson kailangan munang resolbahin ang isyu ng paraan ng pagboto ng mga mambabatas bago simulan ang usapan sa Charter change.

“It’s not a question of time. Hanggang hindi nare-resolve ang manner of voting – jointly or separately, hindi uusad sa Senado ang pagpapalit ng ilang provisions sa Saligang Batas,” diin ni Lacson.
Iginiit naman ni Senator Grace Poe na hindi dapat iprayoridad ang Cha-Cha dahil may mga panukala para sa foreign investment ang nakapending at certified urgent.
“The certified bills will already address the current economic concerns but with much better safeguards. The PSA Amendments for one will allow more foreign investments to come in to give better services to the public, subject to well-calibrated safeguards,” pahayag ni Poe.
“I am personally wary of a piecemeal revision of the Constitution. It is a living document which holds the aspirations of the people. It should only be revised under the strictest of scrutiny for the right reasons,” dagdag pa nito.
“You don’t just change it on a whim especially now that everyone is fearful of a creeping invasion in our shores. Tinkering with the Constitution should always be our last resort,” giit pa ni Poe. (DANG SAMSON-GARCIA)