Senate may tackle Cha-cha after FOI approval - Drilon

MANILA, Philippines - The proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution may be in the next agenda of the Senate after it approved on final reading the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Tuesday.

Speaking to radio broadcaster Joe Taruc of DZRH, Drilon said the Senate will tackle Charter change if and when the House of Representatives approves the resolution of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeking to ease the Constitution's economic provisions.

Explaining why the Cha-cha train has not yet moved in the Senate, Drilon said the FOI bill was their priority.

"Ang usapan namin dito Joe, uunahin namin ang FOI Bill. Sa Kamara, uunahin nila ang Cha-Cha. Pagkatapos nila ng Cha-Cha, kung maipasa nila yung Cha-Cha, aming tatalakayin sa Senado. Yan po ang usapan namin ni Speaker Belmonte," Drilon said.

Belmonte is the author of House Resolution No. 1, which aims to add the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law" in the economic provisions of the Constitution that restrict foreign ownership of land and businesses.

Belmonte said this would enable Congress to lift the economic restrictions when needed, helping the Aquino administration to achieve inclusive growth.

Despite President Aquino's opposition, the Cha-cha proposal has snowballed in the lower house after getting the approval of the House committee on constitutional amendments.

The STAR reported today that House members will not tackle Cha-cha this week when they go on a seven-week Lenten break.

According to the report, Belmonte said their remaining sessions until Wednesday will be devoted to other priority measures.

Belmonte said his proposal to amend the Charter would be discussed when Congress reconvenes on May 5.