Congressmen restart Cha-cha bid again

Leaders of political blocs in the House of Representatives are “all amenable” to ease the “most prohibitive” economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution to entice more foreign direct investments.

This was the common assertion according to House senior deputy speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., after the lower chamber’s party leaders meeting on Wednesday to “brainstorm” on Charter change (Cha-cha), following Speaker Martin Romualdez’s pronouncement he wants to revisit it in 2024.“We party leaders met earlier today. The sense of the House is that the party leaders are all amenable for the revision of the Constitution,” Gonzales told reporters in an interview.

He added leaders of different political parties agreed that economic provisions need to be reviewed thoroughly.

“We did brainstorming regarding this matter earlier. But of course, a people’s initiative won’t come from us, but from the people,” Gonzales said.

He also deflected Sen. Imee Marcos’ remarks that proponents of Charter change were “too persistent” and that some politicians may be aspiring to be prime minister.

Gonzales stressed there was nothing in the House’s proposals for Charter change that push for a change in the form of government.“My proposal, for one, is very clear. It’s just term limits, and others are on economic provisions. Senators won’t be affected by it, they will still have six years. We’re eyeing the economic provisions more,” he said.The House senior deputy speaker made the remarks after Romualdez reiterated his push for Charter change, particularly the easing of economic restrictions that he said were the “most prohibitive” in the region.On Tuesday, he said the lower chamber wanted to make the Constitution “more attuned, sensitive and responsive” to the times.