Romualdez vows to back a Senate-led people's initiative

The leadership of the House of Representatives has committed to support an alternative people's initiative led by the Senate on proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

In a letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Martin Romualdez said he, the deputy speakers, the majority leader, and the minority leader all support Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 which Zubiri filed.

"We await the approval of the Senate RBH No. 6, and we commit to adopt this measure pertaining to the amendments of the economic provisions of the Constitution," Romualdez said in the letter dated January 25, 2024 and obtained by GMA News Online.

"We also pledge and commit to support an alternative people's initiative led by the Senate with the proposition on amendments to the restrictive provisions of the Constitution," he added.

The ongoing people's inititiative led by the pro-Charter change group PIRMA proposes amending the Constitution to provide that Congress vote "jointly" in changing the fundamental law.

The Senate on Tuesday issued a manifesto in which senators rejected the ongoing people's inititiative gathering signatures for the proposed amendment on Congress voting "jointly" for Cha-cha.

"This so-called 'people's' initiative (PI) proposes only one change: in acting as a constituent assembly, the Senate and the House shall vote jointly," the Senate said.

"While it seems simple, the goal is apparent to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation. It is an obvious prelude to further amendments, revisions, or even an overhaul of our entire Constitution," it added.

The Senate expressed concern that if this people's initiative prospers, further changes to the Constitution can be done with or without the Senate's approval and even absent all the senators.

The manifesto was issued after thousands of signature forms were submitted to Commission on Elections offices in the provinces to support the controversial proposed amendment.

Zubiri upon the prodding of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. filed RBH No. 6, proposing amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. It included reforms in the Public Services Act, education, and advertising industry by adding the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law."

Zubiri said Marcos, who was a former senator, told him that he would not allow the power of the Senate to be undermined or diminished when it comes to bicameralism or bicameral form of government. 

He said Marcos told him that people's initiative was "divisive."

Romualdez expressed support for the Senate's decision to pursue amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution

"As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I would like to express my unwavering support for the Senate's initiative to file a Resolution of Both Houses of Congress. This resolution using the mode of Constituent Assembly is a decisive step towards amending the 1987 Constitution, particularly in terms of relaxing the economic provisions that currently restrict the entry of foreign direct investments into the Philippines," Romualdez said.

"Our nation stands on the cusp of transformative economic growth, and it is imperative that we adapt our constitutional framework to the evolving global economic landscape. The amendments proposed are not just timely but necessary to unlock the full potential of our economy, fostering a more competitive, inclusive, and robust economic environment," he added. —Hana Bordey/NB, GMA Integrated News