Zubiri on economic Cha-cha: We’re on track in Senate

PRAGUE—Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Friday that the passage of the proposed measure pushing for economic Charter change is on track.

Zubiri made the remark in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s briefing with the Philippine media here. 

Asked if the passage of the proposed amendments were on track, Zubiri said, ”Yes, we are, with Senator (Juan Edgardo) Angara. We have about three more hearings left and then we’ll be taking it up on plenary. And hopefully, putting it in a vote.”

”And we’re convincing our colleagues… that we have a three-fourth vote of this measure. We’re on track. We’re on track,” he added.

Angara is the author of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, the Senate version of the resolution seeking amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

He is also the chairman of the subcommittee taking up RBH No. 6.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday already passed on second reading its version, RBH No. 7.

The resolutions seeks to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, particularly on foreign ownership restrictions on public utilities, education, and advertising.

Angara in late February said the Senate leadership is looking to sponsor the measure on the Senate plenary before Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

“Ang usapan namin is madala na namin sa floor before the SONA, for debate ng buong Senado,” Angara told reporters then.

(The agreement is to bring the measure in the plenary for debates by the whole Senate before the SONA.)

Zubiri in early March said it would be a challenge to muster enough votes to pass RBH No. 6 given trust issues between the senators and House members.

Apart from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senators Cynthia Villar and Imee Marcos have expressed their opposition to RBH6.  —NB, GMA Integrated News