PH lawmakers push constitutional...

me sway to vote yes to this resolution."

He added that during plenary deliberations, "it came out [that] there is no clarity even in a constituent assembly on how the voting will be done."

Those who voted against RBH 6 were Camarines Sur Third District Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr., Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, which was adopted by the House which reads... 'with a vote of two-third of all its Members, voting separately, to call a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the economic provisions' helped me sway to vote yes to this resolution."

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, Albay First District Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel.

Northern Samar First District Rep. Paul Daza, who abstained during the voting on the RBH at the committee level, said that it was "timely to address the economic provisions" of the Constitution. He voted in the affirmative at the plenary.

Daza said that "having heard the proposed amendment...

He added that during plenary deliberations, "it came out [that] there is no clarity even in a constituent assembly on how the voting will be done." g

"When we finish that, we will go into mass production," Francisco said.

While the entrance of the electric Francisco jeepney is located on the right side, it still has the familiar emergency exit on the rear. Passengers will still be seated facing each other. Its capacity is 30 passengers since the new FMC-designed jeep can accommodate at least eight more people standing inside. It is also air conditioned, has CCTV cameras and is equipped with a machine for the automated fare collection system. It also has a ramp for persons with disabilities.

"It is like riding in a train," said Francisco. "We really have it all."

The FMC will not only be building a PUV that is environmentally friendly, it will also be providing jobs for Filipinos. The factory for the electric Francisco jeep will be based in Camarines Norte and can turn out 20,000 jeepneys a year.

Francisco said it is not only the body of the electric Francisco jeepney that will be assembled at the factory. The electronic motor and all the parts, even the battery that was developed in Los Angeles, California, will be mass-produced at the Camarines Norte economic zone.

"We have the best engineers and jeepney makers in the Philippines. They are all Pinoys so we do not need to import jeepneys, or should I say minibuses, because the modern PUVs plying the streets now are just that, minibuses. They are not jeepneys. Ours is the real jeepney," said Francisco.

He said the company is also discussing with jeepney operators the possibility of the company upgrading the existing jeepneys of those who cannot afford new units to make them PUVM compliant.

"We are not selling jeepneys, what we are selling are livelihoods. With the jeeps we sell, those who buy from us, the transport operators, must be able to make a living," Francisco said.

He said he is optimistic that the government will support a locally designed and produced jeepney since "our politicians are all Filipinos who have, at one point in their lives, were able to ride a jeepney and have fond memories [of it]." g