SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed his agreement with the position stated by Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chair George Garcia that the poll body is amenable to holding a plebiscite on Charter Change amendments together with the 2025 midterm elections.

Zubiri said the idea raised by President Marcos Jr. during one of their meetings regarding this move to have the election and the plebiscite done side by side is just right and practical.

“With limited resources and competing priorities, it is imperative that we maximize every peso spent to address the most pressing needs of our citizens, and it also aligns with the vision of the President for the country,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri added that a whopping P13 billion can be saved should the plebiscite be synchronized with next year’s elections, a huge amount that can be used somewhere else to promote the welfare of our citizens.

“Katulad po ng nauna na nating sinabi, ang statement po ng COMELEC ay consistent sa kahilingan ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. na kanyang ipinahayag sa atin nitong nakaraan lamang,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri said P13 billion savings could be allocated towards critical infrastructure projects and social programs, fund the construction of around 5,200 classrooms!

“Alternatively, it could be allocated to various other programs aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos, such as poverty alleviation initiatives, agricultural development projects or infrastructure improvements in rural areas,” he said. With PS JUN M. SARMIENTO

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas