Senate and House of Representatives Agreed on Charter Change

The leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed in principle to revive the discussion on Charter Change or Cha-Cha. the possible amendments on the 1987 Philippine Constitution is centered on economic provisions. The consensus was made at the first legislative summit initiated by House speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

Lawmakers insists that only the economic provisions of the Constitution will be touched and not the political structure. The amendments will be made through a bicameral constituent assembly where both chambers will vote separately according to Senator Franklin Drilon.

'We will use the legislative process, (the) lawmaking procedure, in amending the Constitution and then on that point, we will be exercising our constituent function through a bicameral assembly. We’re glad there’s unanimity in this,” Drilon added.

The charter change initiative will not start this year because of budget hearings and other priority bills like the Reproductive Health bill and the Freedom of Information bill.



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