MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which calls for a constitutional convention to revise the Constitution of 1987, on its third and final reading.
At Monday’s session, presided over by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, 311 lawmakers supported the adoption of RBH No. 6, while six opposed it and one abstained.
House Bill (HB) No. 7352 and Senate Bill (SB) No. 6 are now up for consideration in the plenary as potential charter amendments.
Bill (HB) 7352 details the procedure for calling a convention to draft a new constitution. RBH No. 6 will be amended if the measure is passed and signed into law.
Romualdez asserted that the House intends to change the Constitution’s restrictive economic clauses, hoping this will make it easier for the country to get more investments from other countries.
“We need additional investments that would create more job and income opportunities for our people. We need increased capital to sustain our economic growth momentum.”
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
The Speaker added that changing the Constitution’s economic rules could be the “final piece in the puzzle” to improve the country’s economic and investment climate.
Under the Constitution of 1987, this is one of the three ways to amend the Constitution, alongside constituent assembly, in which Congress would serve as the amending body, and the People’s Initiative.
The House recommended a hybrid assembly with both elected and appointed members. The election and appointment of delegates would take place on October 30, 2023, merged with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.