PH lawmakers push constitutional change

by REINA LEANNE TOLENTINO ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine House of Representatives has adopted Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 6 calling for a constitutional convention (con-con) to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.

RBH 6 was adopted on the third and final reading.

The resolution will still need to undergo further deliberations in the Senate.

Earlier, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments voted on the RBH after holding nationwide public consultations on charter change. Some lawmakers voted against the resolution.

The House adopted the resolution during plenary session on Monday, March 6, with about 300 lawmakers voting in the affirmative and several in the negative. One abstained.

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, 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...