FOR the sake of our economy, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla is prepared to reach out anew to the House of Representatives to prioritize amending the Constitution’s economic provisions through a constituent assembly.

In an interview on DZBB on Sunday, Padilla noted the House’s preference to amend the Constitution through a constitutional convention may take years while needing billions of pesos in funding.

“Ako po ay nagpakumbaba na po at nagpunta sa Kongreso, nagmano na po ako sa magigiting at mahal na mambabatas sa Kamara. At ako ay nakiusap na rin sa kanila, nagpaliwanag sa kanila, at kung kailangan ulitin ko po yan ay gagawin ko po yan,” said Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.

He added that while he believes in amending the Charter through a constitutional convention, time is short to amend the Charter’s economic provisions, aside from the cost of a constitutional convention, which may cost some P11 billion.

Padilla said a constituent assembly is the most practical way to amend the economic provisions of the Charter, so the proposed changes can be brought to the public via a plebiscite timed with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election in October.

Padilla insist that if the economic amendments are approved in October, they can take effect immediately and Congress can pass new measures to open the country’s economy to investments.

“Kailangan natin ngayon, mabilis. Pagka inaprubahan yan sa October barangay election, take effect na kaagad yan ang susunod na Kongreso pwede na kami umabante na tayo gagawa na ng mga bagong paraan para mabuksan ang ating ekonomiya,” he said, adding the current poor economic conditions require faster action on amending the economic provisions.

“Kung tayo hindi naghihirap, Concon na ako pero dahil tayo ay puro utang na tayo nabubuhay sa utang ang Pilipinas, unahin natin ang economic provision,” he added.

AUTHOR PROFILE

PS Jun M. Sarmiento