Angara: Senate eyes sponsorship of RBH6 on plenary before SONA

Senator Sonny Angara on Wednesday said they are eyeing to sponsor the measure proposing amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution on the Senate plenary before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

“Ang usapan namin is madala na namin sa floor before the SONA, for debate ng buong Senado,” Angara said in an ambush interview.

So far, the Senate subcommittee on Resolution of Both Houses RBH No. 6, chaired by Angara, has conducted three hearings on the matter.

Senate’s RBH No. 6 seeks to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, particularly on public utilities, education, and advertising.

The House of Representatives has also started its deliberations on the counterpart bill, RBH No. 7.

Angara also shared that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has raised concerns on the entry of foreign educational institutions in the Philippines.

“Nababahala siya na parang ang sabi ng mga eksperto dapat nga huwag ipasok ‘yung foreign schools dahil apektado ang pagtuturo ng history, ‘yung values, nationalism, etcetera,” he said.

“Pero ang sabi niya, baka naman hindi natin itinuturo? Ayaw nating pasukan tayo, pero tayo mismo, hindi natin itinuturo? ‘Yun ang point nya,” the senator added.

Angara was among the senators who met with the President last Monday after the ceremonial signing of two new laws in Malacañang.

Meanwhile, Angara said there will be no insertions in the current proposals to amend three provisions of the charter.

“Wala dapat dagdag-bawas. Kung ano yung usapan, ‘yun dapat,” he said when asked about the apprehension of some lawmakers that there might be other amendments that can be inserted during the bicameral conference committee.

He pointed out the need to coordinate with the House of Representatives on the language of the amendments to skip the bicameral conference committee.

Angara also said they expect the current process of amending the Constitution to be challenged before the Supreme Court as they are passing the amendments like a regular bill.

“Sigurado, kasi first time eh at saka dahil nga may ambiguity sa 1987 Constitution maraming debate talaga… I think it will face a legal challenge at some point,” he said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News