SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday said there is no reason for the House of Representatives to slow down in passing pro-people’s measures after the approval of twin measures seeking to push economic reforms to generate income and create more jobs for Filipinos.

“The House of Representatives will continue enacting more laws and acting on legislative measures that will boost the economy and improve the living condition of our people,” Romualdez said, adding that the House of Representatives already approved on third and final reading 23 out of 31 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council-listed (LEDAC) measures.

“Inuulit ko po, wala kaming planong mag-slow down o mag-relax sa trabaho. Sa halip, dodoblehin namin ang sipag sa trabaho. Pangako namin ito sa taumbayan na naghahal sa amin sa Kongreso,” Romualdez said.

“Kung nagta-trabaho man kami ng mabilis, ito ay dahil interes ng mamamayan ang nakataya. Hindi pulitika, kundi ekonomiya ng bansa.

Hindi eleksyon, kundi misyon na iahon ang mga kababayan natin sa kahirapan. Kailan pa naging kasalanan ang mag-trabaho nang mabilis para sa bayan?” He asked.

Romualdez said amending the Constitution is the last piece of the puzzle to move the economy forward. “While the Philippines made progress in addressing foreign ownership limitations that have constrained investment in many sectors, though legislation such as the Public Services Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and the Foreign Investments Act, fundamental investment restrictions enshrined in the Philippine Constitution could not be corrected by simple legislations nor by Executive decisions. Hence a need for constitutional amendments.”

Although not part of LEDAC, Romualdez said the House priority list includes Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which calls for a constitutional convention to propose changes in the “restrictive” economic provisions of the Charter to enable the country to attract more foreign investments and its implementing measure, HB No. 7352.

Last week, the House of Representatives voted 301-6 with no abstentions to overwhelmingly approve RBH No. 6 on third and final reading. HB No. 7352 also hurdled third reading last Tuesday with 301 against seven voting.

“When we passed the twin resolutions on the proposed Constitutional Convention, which were co-authored by 301 House Members, our mission was clear. We need to amend the restrictive provisions of the Constitution that prohibit the entry of foreign direct investments in the Philippines. We are competing with other countries in attracting foreign investments needed to encourage more business activities, which will create high-paying and quality jobs for Filipinos here in the country,” Romualdez said.

“Yes, the 301 House Members who co-authored the twin resolutions are in a rush to amend these restrictive provisions of the Constitution. Just as we, in the House of Representatives, are in a rush to approve priority measures agreed upon in the LEDAC meetings to give flesh to the 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda of the national government,” Romualdez said.

“Let me make it clear, though. All legislative measures approved in the House of Representatives were deliberated extensively and exhaustively — from the committee level to plenary sessions. All voices were heard before we take a vote. Lahat ng ito, dumaan sa tamang proseso at masusing pag-aaral,” Romualdez stressed.

“Though we, in the House of Representatives, already did our part in moving the process of amending the Constitution, we have no time to rest. I have directed the House leadership to go full-blast in expediting the approval of other pending measures aimed at creating an environment that will boost economic activities and job creation.

This is on top of 23 out of 31 other urgent measures that the House of Representatives already approved on third and final reading as part of our commitment to the LEDAC meetings, which were religiously attended by leaders of both chambers,” Romualdez added.