MANILA, Feb. 18 (PNA) — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday said he is optimistic that the House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitutional Amendments can come up with their committee report on the controversial and complicated Charter Change (Cha-cha) before sine die adjournment of the 1st regular session on June 13.
“I think before the next adjournment of this session. It should probably after we reconvene, committee report is already in the plenary,” said Belmonte at the sidelines of Cha-cha hearing.
Belmonte claimed that he too believes that he can muster the needed three-fourth votes of the Lower Chamber should the time to vote comes.
“Alam mo, this requires three-fourths (votes), and so far three-fourth is a formidable barrier and therefore people are really convinced to be able to get that kind of a vote and I’m reasonably confident that we can keep that but still that is a big barrier,” Belmonte pointed out.
The veteran solon proposed in his amendments Article 12 (National Economy and Patrimony), Article 14 (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports) and Article 16 (General Provisions) and insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law.”
Davao City Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano, chairperson of the committee said that the marathon hearing on this issue is scheduled for two successive days which started today (February 18) until tomorrow (February 19).
She claimed that they need to hear the sides of all angles as they have invited several guests to hear their piece.
The committee scheduled the hearings after foreign investors call on the attention of the House leadership that they support the resolution sponsored by Belmonte himself.
The Makati Business Club who is also present during the forum throws their support to Belmonte’s resolution. (PNA)