THE support of most Filipinos for proposed amendments to the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions should prompt the Senate to pass Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said Sunday.

“They should respond to our people’s support for Charter reform by approving RBH No. 6, their version of the amendment proposals ASAP, upon the resumption of our session on April 29 after our Holy Week recess,” he said.

Gonzales, who is representative of Pampanga’s third district, was commenting on the result of a survey done by big data research firm Tangere, which showed that 52 percent of Filipinos believed the Constitution should now be amended.

On Wednesday, before Congress went on its Lenten break, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved RBH No. 7, its version of the economic constitutional amendment proposals.

“Our good Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivered on his promise to approve the proposals before Holy Week. That’s leadership,” Gonzales said.

On the other hand, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, made a similar commitment but failed to do it, he said.

He said the Senate leader can redeem himself by having the Senate approve RBH No. 6 upon the resumption of session later next month so the proposed amendments can be submitted to the people in a plebiscite as early as possible.

The Tangere survey results released on Friday showed that 14 percent of Filipinos “strongly agree” while 38 percent “somewhat agree” to Charter change.

Some 13 percent “somewhat disagree” and 10 percent “strongly disagree.” The remaining 25 percent were unsure whether to support or oppose Charter reform.

The regions with the highest support were Metro Manila (55 percent), and Southern Luzon and Bicol Region (55 percent), while Mindanao (50 percent) had the lowest support.

Some 55 percent of respondents believe that the Senate and Congress should vote together in proposing amendments to the Constitution.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco