House committee of the whole approves RBH7

The House of Representatives – acting as a committee of the whole – approved overwhelmingly yesterday Resolution of Both Houses No. 7, containing three proposed amendments to perceived restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

- DELON PORCALLA

The committee voted to endorse the amendment proposals in RBH7, particularly amending provisions in the Constitution such as the grant of legislative franchises and ownership of public utilities in Article 12, ownership of basic educational facilities in Article 14 and the ownership of advertising firms in Article 16.

Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II told reporters at a briefing that “plenary deliberations” will start on March 11 when the committee report will be reported out to House members, and RBH7 may be approved on second reading by March 13.

In six days of hearings, lawmakers heard the testimonies of resource persons including former Cabinet members, former lawmakers, academics, Filipino educators and professionals based abroad, former Supreme Court justices, economists and framers of the Constitution.

Gonzales, who was designated majority leader of the committee, moved to terminate the hearings.

The lawmaker from Mandaluyong City then presented a motion to approve RBH7, which embodies the proposed amendments.

Shortly after, Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, who was presiding over the hearing, declared the resolution approved.

Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon, all principal authors of RBH 7, alternately presided over six days of marathon hearings that started last Feb. 26. 

The House timeline set by Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed to finish economic amendments before Congress goes on a Holy Week break on March 23.