House OKs RBH 7

THE House Committee of the Whole approved on Wednesday Resolution of Both Houses 7 (RBH 7) that seeks to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

After tedious deliberations that started on March 4, House Deputy Majority Leader and the committee's majority head Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali «Boyet» Gonzales 2nd motioned that the RBH 7 be approved.

House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose «Mannix» Dalipe declared the motion was carried.

The House Committee of the Whole adopted the committee report on the resolution.

Earlier, Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr., Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro opposed the approval of RBH 7.

Both the Senate RBH 6 and the House of Representatives RBH 7 covered Article 12 (Section 11), Article 14 (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article 16 (paragraph 2 of Section 11).

Both versions sought to add the words «unless otherwise provided by law» to these provisions.

Gonzales said it was highly probable that RBH 7 would be approved on second reading by Wednesday next week.

A vote for the measure at the plenary level was scheduled.

The House has two weeks before it goes on a Holy Week break.

Meanwhile, former Finance secretary Margarito Teves said removing the restrictive provisions in the Constitution will enable the Philippines to have the flexibility to adjust quickly to changing international and domestic economic conditions.

Former senator Gregorio «Gringo» Honasan 2nd, who was also among the resource persons in the House deliberations, also expressed support for RBH 7.

The 1987 Constitution states that any amendment to or revision of it may be proposed by the Congress upon a three-fourths vote of all its members or a constitutional convention.

The Constitution also allows the direct proposal of amendments to it by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least 3 percent of the registered voters therein.