Senate to prioritize LEDAC bills, not Cha-cha

The Senate would rather prioritize bills listed in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) than rush the passage of the proposed measure to amend the 1987 Constitution – at least based on the chamber’s agenda and schedule for the last week of session.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Sen. Sonny Angara’s Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments has not set any hearing on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH6) until the last session day on March 20. Congress’ calendared recess is set from March 23 to April 28.

The House of Representatives approved on second reading RBH7 last week.

Given the schedule, the Senate would not be able to tackle and pass RBH6 anytime soon and would have to wait for the resumption of session on April 29.

“Yes, because this week is for LEDAC bills like (government) procurement reform laws and others,” Angara told The STAR in a Viber message when asked if the Senate would tackle RBH6 after the Lenten break.

In August last year, senators first floated the idea of exempting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the Government Procurement Reform Act so it could acquire equipment faster amid growing Chinese provocations in the West Philippine Sea.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for a review of the AFP modernization program at a public hearing of the Senate committee of National Defense and security on the proposed National Defense Act and Self-Reliance Defense Posture Revitalization presided over by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Even if the Senate is apparently in no rush to approve a Charter change measure anytime soon, Speaker Martin Romualdez and other House leaders said they would still prefer to work with the senators on the matter for the benefit of the country.

“It is important for us to work with the Senate on this, so that we can limit the possible constitutional challenge RBH6 and RBH7 will face,” Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez told a news briefing.